EP1733988B1 - Process and apparatus for the production of newspapers - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves laying out sheets on top of each other in a collecting station (8) and folding booklets in a transverse folding station. The sheets are connected with each other and the booklets are stuck into one another in another collecting station. Side edge and longitudinal cutting, folding, booklet and the latter collecting stations are deactivated based on format and/or composition of a newspaper in case-by-case manner. An independent claim is also included for a device for execution of a method of producing a newspaper.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of making newspapers comprising at least one booklet formed from a number of folded, nested, printed sheets, and to an apparatus for carrying out this method.

From the EP-A-1 209 000 For example, a method and an apparatus for producing newspapers are known in which successive successive regions of a material web are printed in a digital printer. Each of these areas corresponds to a sheet of a magazine of a newspaper. By cross-cutting the printed sheets are separated from the web. The sheets of a booklet are placed on each other and then folded in the transverse direction. Then several folders consisting of folded sheets are stacked to form a stack of stitches. To make the finished newspaper, the booklets of this booklet pile are finally folded in the middle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus of the type mentioned above which, respectively, makes it possible to produce newspapers of various types without interrupting continuous production.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a method having the features of claim 1 or with a device having the features of claim 12.

A material web is printed in a digital printing system according to the respective end product and then fed to a further processing plant, in which the material web is cut into sheets. The finishing plant has a number of stations in which the sheets are stacked and stapled to each other. Some of these stations can be deactivated on a case-by-case basis so that no processing takes place in the deactivated stations. This enables the production of various newspapers, e.g. differ in terms of format and / or composition, without having to interrupt the continuous manufacturing process for the purpose of conversion.

Preferred further developments of the inventive method or the inventive device form the subject of the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

in Draufsicht eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von verschiedenartigen Zeitungen,

Fig. 2

den Ablauf einer ersten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens zur Herstellung von Zeitungen,

Fig. 3

in Draufsicht die Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 zur Durchführung des in Fig. 2 dargestellten Verfahrens,

Fig. 4

den Ablauf eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens zur Herstellung von Zeitungen,

Fig. 5

in Draufsicht die Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 zur Durchführung des in Fig. 4 dargestellten Verfahrens, und

Fig. 6 - 10

in zur Fig. 2 entsprechenden Darstellungen den Ablauf von weiteren Ausführungsbeispielen des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. It shows purely schematically:

Fig. 1

in plan view an apparatus for producing various types of newspapers,

Fig. 2

the sequence of a first embodiment of the inventive method for the production of newspapers,

Fig. 3

in plan view, the device according to Fig. 1 to carry out the in Fig. 2 illustrated method,

Fig. 4

the sequence of a second embodiment of the inventive method for the production of newspapers,

Fig. 5

in plan view, the device according to Fig. 1 to carry out the in Fig. 4 represented method, and

Fig. 6 - 10

in to Fig. 2 corresponding representations of the sequence of further embodiments of the inventive method.

In the Fig. 1 is shown in plan view purely schematically a device 1 for producing newspapers. With this device 1, it is possible to produce different types of newspapers, ie those of different formats or different compositions, without any changes in the production during production.

This device 1 has a digital printing system 2, which is of a known type and in which a material web is partially printed, as will be described in more detail. To this digital printing system 2 includes a further processing plant 3, which has a side edge cutting station 4, a longitudinal cutting station 5, a cross cutting station 6, a discharge device 7 and a first collecting station 8. The stations 4-8 are arranged one behind the other as seen in a first conveying direction X. The side edge cutting station 4 serves to cut away a strip of material from the printed material web along a side edge or along both side edges. In the Longitudinal cutting station 5, the web is cut in its longitudinal direction, while in the cross-cutting station 6, a cutting of the web takes place transversely to its longitudinal direction. The discharge device 7 serves to eject defective, empty and faulty printed sheets (waste paper) from the processing path. In the first collecting station 8, the sheets separated from the web are placed on each other to form a booklet. The first collecting station 8 can, for example, from the in the EP-A-1 471 022 be described type. The side edge cutting station 4 and the longitudinal cutting station 5 can be deactivated on a case by case basis, so that the material web is not trimmed at its side edges or not cut in its longitudinal direction, if this is not necessary for the production of a particular newspaper.

At the first collection station 8, a conveyor 9 connects, the conveying direction Y is perpendicular to the conveying direction X. The conveyor 9 brings the coming out of the first collecting station 8 booklets to a Querfalzstation 10, in which the overlapping sheets of a booklet are folded transversely to the conveying direction Y. At the Querfalzstation 10 includes a Längsfalzstation 11, which serves to fold the sheets of a booklet in the conveying direction Y. The Querfalzstation 10 and / or the Längsfalzstation 11 may or may have a folding device, as shown in the EP-A-1 213 245 is described. At the longitudinal folding station 11, a stitching station 12 adjoins, in which the stitches coming from the longitudinal folding station 11 are stapled along their folded edge. Instead of a stitching station 12 also different types of stations for Connecting the folded and nested sheets of a booklet are used, for example, a gluing station.

The stapling station 12 is followed by a second collection station 13, in which two or more booklets are inserted into one another. The finished newspapers are issued at an output station 14.

The Querfalzstation 10, the stitching station 12 and the second collection station 13 can be disabled on a case by case in the production of certain types of newspapers, a cross-folding, stapling and / or nesting of booklets is not required.

Based on Fig. 2-8 Now, the preparation of various newspapers using the device 1 will be explained.

The Fig. 2 shows the sequence of a first embodiment of the inventive method for the production of newspapers, while in the Fig. 3 the device 1 according to Fig. 1 in carrying out the method according to Fig. 2 is shown.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 2 Newspapers are produced in the so-called tabloid format, whereby all newspapers are of the same type, consisting of two nested, folded sheets and thus have 8 pages.

A web of material 15 is withdrawn from a roll 16 and in the digital printing system 2, which in the Fig. 2 only shown schematically, printed on both sides. In this case, the information in the longitudinal direction of the material web 15th imprinted on them. With 17, 17 ', ... 17''''successive sections of the material web 15 are designated. The printing of the material web 15 takes place in successive regions 18, 18a,... 18j. Each of these regions 18, 18a,... 18j is subdivided into two subregions 19 and 19 ', 19a and 19a', etc., which are juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of the material web 15. The two respectively adjacent subareas 19, 19 'and 19a, 19a' of each area 18, 18a, ... 18j each correspond to a sheet of a booklet. These two sheets of a booklet are each labeled A, B and A ', B'. In the embodiment according to Fig. 2 Each section 17, 17 '... 17''''is successively printed with the information associated with the sheet of two different booklets. In other words, the sheets labeled A and B in each section 17-17 "'belong to a first booklet and the sheets labeled A' and B 'in each section 17-17""to a second booklet.

The thus printed web 15 is cut in the longitudinal cutting station 5 in its longitudinal direction, as shown by the scissors 20. Subsequently, the material web 15 is cut in the transverse cutting station 6 in the transverse direction, as indicated by the scissors 21. This results in two adjacent sheets 22, 22 ', which now reach the first collection station 8.

In this collecting station 8, the sheets 22 and 22 'of a booklet are now placed next to each other. The booklets 23 and 23 'formed in this way then arrive the conveyor 9, with which they are further promoted in the direction of arrow Y.

The booklets 23, 23 'pass through the in this case deactivated Querfalzstation 10 and are folded in the longitudinal folding station 11 along the fold lines 24 in the longitudinal direction. As the Fig. 3 shows, these fold lines 24 extend in the conveying direction Y. In the following stitching station 12, the booklets 23, 23 'stapled along their Längsfalzes 25. If this stapling omitted, the stitching station 12 is disabled. The booklets 23, 23 'pass through the deactivated second collecting station 13 and are output at the output station 14 in the order of Issue 23, Issue 23', Issue 23, Issue 23 ', etc. The booklets 23, 23 'at the same time form the finished newspapers 29, 29'.

In this embodiment, the side edge cutting station 4, the Querfalzstatioh 10, the second collection station 13 and possibly the stitching station 12 are disabled. In these deactivated stations there is no processing of the material web 15 or of the booklets 23, 23 ',

In the Fig. 4 and 5 is in representations that the representations in the Fig. 2 and 3 represented, the production of newspapers, which have a different format than the newspapers or booklets 23, 23 'according to the Fig. 2 and 3 , Based on the embodiment according to the Fig. 4 explains how newspapers are made in the so-called broadsheet format, namely newspapers of various kinds.

The withdrawn from the roll 16 material web 15 is printed on both sides in successive areas 18, 18a, ... 18m. Each of these areas 18, 18a, ... 18m corresponds to a sheet of a booklet. The information is printed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the material web 15 on this. The areas A - D of the material web section 17 belong to a first booklet, which consists of four sheets and a total of 16 pages. The areas E - J of the subsequent material web section 17 'belong to a second booklet comprising six sheets and a total of 24 pages. The areas A'-D 'of section 17 "belong to another booklet corresponding to the first booklet.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the width of the material web 15 is greater than the width of the printed areas 18, ... 18m, ie as the width of the sheet 22. For this reason, when passing through the material web 15 through the side edge cutting station 4 through laterally cut away at the material web 15 sections of material. This is in the Fig. 4 by means of the two cutting tools (scissors) 30, 31 indicated. The following longitudinal cutting station 5 is deactivated, ie there is no longitudinal cutting of the material web 15. In the transverse cutting station 6, the material web 15 is cut transversely to its longitudinal direction (in FIG Fig. 4 represented by the scissors 21). The separated in this way from the web 15 sheet 22 reach the first collection station 8, in which the sheets 22 of a booklet are placed on each other. The overlapping sheets 22 of a booklet then reach the conveyor 9 and are conveyed by this in the conveying direction Y. The Staples consisting of the sheets A - D, A '- D' are designated by 23, while the booklets formed by the sheets E - J are denoted by 23a.

The booklets 23, 23a successively pass through the Querfalzstation 10, in which the overlapping sheets of a booklet 23, 23a along the fold line 26 are folded. The resulting transverse fold is denoted by 27.

Subsequently, the once folded folders 23, 23a are folded in the following Längsfalzstation 11 along a fold line 28 which extends at right angles to the transverse fold 27. The corresponding longitudinal fold is designated 25. In the second collecting station 13 two twice folded booklets 23 a, 23 are laid into a finished newspaper 29 each other. In each case, a booklet 23 is placed on the leading booklet 23a in the second collecting station 13.

In the output station 14, the finished newspapers 29, 29 'are issued. Each of these newspapers 29, 29 'thus consists of two staples 23 and 23a inserted one inside the other, the booklet 23a comprising the sheets A-D and the booklet 23 the sheets E-J.

When in the Fig. 4 and 5 In the embodiment shown, with the exception of the longitudinal cutting station 5, all the processing stations 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 are activated.

Based on Fig. 6-9 that represent the Fig. 2 and 4 correspond, further embodiments for producing various types of newspapers will now be explained.

That in the Fig. 6 embodiment shown corresponds to the embodiment according to Fig. 2 However, in the embodiment according to Fig. 6 different end products, ie newspapers 29, are produced.

The regions 18, 18a, 18b or, 18h, 18i, 18j of the material web sections 17 and 17 "belong to booklets which comprise three sheets 22 and 22 'and thus 12 pages, while the regions 18c, 18d, 18e, 18f, 18g of the web portion 17 'belong to a booklet comprising five sheets 22, 22' and thus 20 pages.

Same as in the embodiment according to Fig. 2 In each area 18, 18a,... 18j, two adjacent partial areas 19, 19 'are printed, which belong to different booklets. In this case, the information in the longitudinal direction of the material web 15 is printed in each subarea 19, 19 '.

The printed material web is cut in the longitudinal cutting station 5 in its longitudinal direction (represented by the scissors 20). Subsequently, a transverse cutting takes place in the transverse cutting station 6 (represented by the scissors 21). The so separated, adjacent sheets 22, 22 'of different books reach the first collection station 8, in which the sheets to staples 23 bwz. 23 'placed on each other. The booklets 23, 23 'are then by means of the conveyor 9 ( Fig. 3 ) conveyed to the longitudinal folding station 11, in which the overlapping sheets of booklets 23 are folded along the folding lines 24 in the direction of their direction of movement Y. The resulting longitudinal fold is designated 25. Subsequently, the folded booklets 23 in the Stapling station 12 stapled to the folded edge 25. This stapling can be omitted at best. In the output station 14, the end products 29, 29 ', 29a, 29a', etc. are successively output. In this case, the end products 29, 29 'consist of a booklet which consists of the sheets A, B, C or A', B ', C'. In contrast, the newspapers 29a, 29a 'each comprise a booklet comprising the sheets E - I and E' - I '.

Same as in the embodiment according to Fig. 2 are in the embodiment according to Fig. 6 the side edge cutting station 4, the Querfalzstation 10 and the second collection station 13 and possibly also the stitching station 12 disabled.

That in the Fig. 7 embodiment shown corresponds largely to the previously described embodiment according to Fig. 6 with the exception that end products, ie newspapers 29, are made up of two nested booklets.

The regions 18, 18a, 18b (and the associated partial regions 19, 19 ') of the material web section 17 belong to a first newspaper, the regions 18c and 18d of the material web section 17' to a second newspaper and the regions 18e-18i of the material web section 17 " to a third newspaper. In this case, the partial regions 19 'of the regions 18, 18a, 18b (designated by A, B, C) correspond to a first booklet 23 and the partial regions 19 of the regions 18, 18a, 18b (designated D, E, F) to a second booklet 23 'of the first newspaper 29. The partial regions 19' of the regions 18c and 18d (designated by G and H) correspond to a first booklet 23a and the partial regions 19 of the regions 18c, 18d to a second booklet 23a 'of the second Newspaper 29 '. Finally, the subregions 19 'of the regions 18e-18i (labeled K, L, M, N, O) correspond to a first booklet 23b and the subregions 19 of the regions 18e-18i (designated P, Q, R, S, T). a second booklet 23b 'of the third newspaper 29 ".

The printed in their longitudinal direction with information material web is as based on the Fig. 6 explained, cut first in the longitudinal direction (scissors 20) and then in the transverse direction (scissors 21). The adjacent sheets 22, 22 'are placed in the first collecting station 8 on each other. The juxtaposed booklets 23, 23 'are transferred to the conveyor 9 and in the conveying direction Y successively fed to the Längsfalzstation 11 (in the Fig. 7 represented by the booklets 23b 'and 23b). In the longitudinal folding station 11, folding takes place along the folding lines 24. If desired, the booklets are stapled in the stitching station 12 along their longitudinal fold 25 (in FIG Fig. 7 represented by the booklet 23a '). Subsequently, belonging to the same newspaper, possibly stapled booklets in the second collection station 13 are placed astride each other, ie inserted into each other, as in the Fig. 7 represented by the booklets 23, 23 '. The end product (newspaper 29) thus formed is discharged at the discharge station 14, that is, in the order of first newspaper 29, second newspaper 29 ', third newspaper 29 ", fourth newspaper 29 corresponding to the first newspaper, and so on both booklets 23, 23 'a newspaper 29 or only one of the two booklets 23, 23' and 23a, 23a 'stapled.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 7 the following stations are deactivated: side edge cutting station 4, transverse folding station 10 and optionally stitching station 12.

Based on Fig. 8 will now be explained, as with the device 1 according to Fig. 1 a newspaper 29 can be made, which arises from various partial products.

The material web 15 is printed as follows (on both sides):

In the material web section 17, two adjacent subregions 19, 19 'are printed in each region 18, 18a, 18b. The partial regions 19 'of the regions 18, 18a, 18b (designated A, B, C) correspond to the sheets 22' of a first booklet 23 of a first partial product 34, while the partial regions 19 of the regions 18, 18a, 18b correspond to a second booklet 23 '. of the mentioned first partial product 34 correspond. This first partial product 34 is a tabloid product in terms of format and thus comprises two booklets 23, 23 ', each of which comprises 3 sheets and a total of 12 pages.

In the material web sections 17 ', 17''and17''' areas 18c - 181 are printed, of which the areas 18c, 18d, 18e the arc of a second partial product, ie a booklet 23a correspond. The areas 18f and 18g correspond to sheets of a third partial product, ie a booklet 23b, while the areas 18h-181 correspond to the sheet of a fourth partial product, ie a booklet 23c. These booklets 23a, 23b, 23c have broadsheet format.

As the Fig. 8 shows, the web 15 is cut in the section 17 both in the longitudinal direction (scissors 20) and in the transverse direction (scissors 21). The juxtaposed sheets 22, 22 'are, as the above with reference to the Fig. 7 has been described, in the first collecting station 8 superimposed (booklets 23, 23 ') and then folded in the longitudinal folding station along the fold lines 24. In the second collecting station 13, the booklets belonging to the partial product 34 23 ', 23 placed on each other, ie inserted into each other. The finished partial product 34 initially remains in the second collecting station 13. During the processing of the sheets 22, 22 'formed from the material web section 17, the transverse folding station 10 and possibly also the stitching station 12 remain deactivated.

Once the material web section 17, the longitudinal cutting station 5 ( Fig. 1 ), the longitudinal cutting station 5 is deactivated because longitudinal cutting of the following material web sections 17 ', 17 ", 17" is not required. If necessary, the side edge cutting station 4 can now be activated to cut away lateral strips of material, as the basis of the Fig. 4 was explained. The web portions 17 ', 17'',17''' are cut in the transverse direction (scissors 21) and fed to the first collection station 8, where the sheets of a booklet 23a, 23b, 23c are placed on each other. Now followed in the now activated Querfalzstation 10 folding the superimposed sheet of a book along the folding line 26, as the basis of the Fig. 4 has already been explained. In the following Längsfalzstation 11 further folding of the sheet of a booklet along the fold line 28. The twice folded booklets 23a, 23b and 23c are successively placed in the second collection station 13 on the already located in this second collection station 13 partial product 34. In this way, an end product, ie a newspaper 29, is obtained which consists of the partial product 34 and the booklets 23a, 23b and 23c.

As from the preceding description of the embodiment according to Fig. 8 shows, it is with a device 1 according to Fig. 1 It is possible to produce various partial products 34, 23a, 23b, 23c without interrupting continuous production. In fact, it is only necessary to switch certain stations, namely the side edge cutting station 4, the longitudinal cutting station 5, the transverse folding station 10, the stitching station 12, on and off at the right time during production.

It is understood that in the same way without interrupting the production of other newspapers can be made that differ in format and / or composition.

In the embodiments described above for the production of newspapers, a device 1 is used, as described in the Fig. 1 is shown. In this device 1, a change in the conveying direction of the ejected from the first collection device 8 staple stack, ie, the overlapping sheets of a booklet 23, by 90 °. That is, the conveying direction Y of the booklets 23 is at a right angle to the direction of movement X of the material web 15 and the direction X, in which separated from the material web 15 Sheet 22, 22 'of the first collecting station 8 are supplied. Thus, in this embodiment, the processing path is angled.

But it is also possible to refrain from such a change in the conveying direction X, Y and to arrange the processing stations along a linear processing path. In this case, the conveying directions X and Y are the same direction.

Based on Fig. 9 and 10 , which represent the Fig. 2 Embodiments will now be described in which the processing path is linear.

Based on Fig. 9 the production of newspapers 29, 29 'in tabloid format is described, wherein the information in the individual areas 18, 18a, ... 18j is printed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the material web 15.

The regions 18, 18a, 18b of the material web section 17 or the regions 18h, 18i, 18j of the material web section 17 "(denoted by A, B, C or A ', B', C ') correspond to the bows of a first booklet. while the regions 18c-18g of the web portion 17 '(denoted by D, E, F, G, H) correspond to the signature of a second booklet. The first booklet consists of three sheets and a total of 12 pages, while the second booklet consists of five sheets and a total of 20 pages.

The printed material web 15 passes through the deactivated side edge cutting station 4 and the deactivated longitudinal cutting station 5 and is cut in the transverse cutting station 6 in the transverse direction (scissors 21). The case separated sheet 22 reach the first collection station 8, where the sheets of a booklet are placed on each other. The overlapping sheets of a booklet are now conveyed in the same direction through the deactivated transverse folding station 10 to the longitudinal folding station 11, where they are folded along the fold line 26. The case formed longitudinal fold is designated 25. The folded staples 23 are stapled in the subsequent stapling station 12 along the longitudinal fold 25. If necessary, this stapling can be omitted. The booklets 23 pass through the deactivated second collecting station 13 and are output at the output station 14 as finished newspapers 29, 29 '.

In the embodiment described above, as already mentioned, the processing stations 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 are arranged along a linear processing path, i. the conveying directions X and Y are aligned with each other. Of these processing stations, only the cross-cutting station 6, the first collecting station 8, the longitudinal folding station 11 and optionally the stitching station 12 are activated in the present case.

Based on Fig. 10 The production of different newspapers 29, 29 'in broadsheet format will now be explained, wherein the information in the individual areas 18, 18a,... 18n is printed in the longitudinal direction of the material web 15. The regions 18-18c of the material web section 17 or the regions 18j-18m of the material web section 17 "(denoted by A, B, C, D or A ', B', C ', D') correspond to the bows of a first booklet 23, while the areas 18d - 18i of the web portion 17 and the areas 18n and following the web portion 17 '''(denoted by E, F, G, H, I, J or, J') correspond to the arc of a second booklet 23a. The first booklet 23 consists of four sheets and thus comprises 16 pages, while the second booklet 23a consists of six sheets and thus comprises 24 pages. The material web 15 is optionally trimmed in the side edge cutting station 4 at the side edges, passes through the deactivated longitudinal cutting station 5 and is cut in the transverse cutting station in the transverse direction. The resulting sheet 22 reach the first collection station 8, in which the sheets of a booklet are placed on each other (see the designated 23a booklet). The staples consisting of superimposed sheets are conveyed in the same direction to the transverse folding station 10, in which the booklets are folded along the fold line 32 transversely to their conveying direction Y. The corresponding transverse fold is denoted by 27. Subsequently, the booklets reach the longitudinal folding station 11, where they are folded along the folding line 33, which runs in the conveying direction Y. The case formed longitudinal fold is designated 25. The twice-folded booklets now reach the second collection station, where in each case a first booklet 23 is placed on a second booklet 23a. The finished newspapers 29, 29 ', each consisting of two nested stitches 23, 23 a, are output in the output station 14.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 10 the following stations are activated: cross cutting station 6, first collecting station 8, transverse folding station 10, longitudinal folding station 11, second collecting station 13 and possibly also the side edge cutting station 4.

With the device 1 different newspapers can be produced in succession or parallel to each other in a continuous production process, regardless of whether the processing path as in Fig. 1 is angled or linear. The various newspapers may differ in format (tabloid format, broadsheet format, Berliner format, Nordic format, etc.) and / or composition (one or more issues). The booklets can be folded once or twice and stapled if necessary.

In the following, some of the different possible variants are briefly described.

The side edge cutting station 4 may be formed so that only at one side edge of the material web 15, a strip of material is cut away. The cutting tool or the cutting tools of the side edge cutting station 4 are preferably adjustable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the material web 15.

In certain cases, the side edge cutting station 4 and the longitudinal cutting station 5 form a common structural unit. In this case, the cutting tool or the cutting tools of the side edge cutting station 4 and the cutting tool of the longitudinal cutting station 5 are mounted on a common shaft which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the material web 15. The various cutting tools are activated individually if required.

It is also possible to color the material web 15 before or after printing. This can be a commercial Be provided inking before or behind the digital printing system 2.

Instead of the stack of overlapping sheets 22 of a booklet 23 as shown in the Fig. 1 1, by changing the conveying direction X, Y to the correct position for the subsequent folding, the stacked sheets of the booklets 23 can be rotated by 90 ° and then fed in the same conveying direction to the following folding stations 10, 11.

In all of the embodiments explained above, the booklets 23 are always folded in the longitudinal folding station 11 and only in certain cases in the transverse folding station 10. However, it is also conceivable always to fold the booklets 23 in the transverse folding station 10 and only in certain cases in the longitudinal folding station 11. In this case, the stitching station 12 is designed so that stapling along the transverse fold is possible.

It is possible to insert in the booklets 23 and / or between nested booklets 23 pre-produced inserts. These supplements are usually made at a different location.

The longitudinal folding station 11 can also be designed so that a number of folded sheets are placed on each other before they are conveyed on to the next processing station. This is possible, for example, with a folding device, as in the EP-A-1 213 245 ( Fig. 4a, 4b ) is shown.

Claims (18)

1. Process for the production of newspapers (29) which comprise at least one section (23), which is formed from a number of folded printed sheets (22) located inside one another, in which, in a digital printing system (2), on both sides of a material web (15), successive regions (18) of the material web (15), of which each region (18) corresponds to at least one sheet (22) of a section (23), are printed with information belonging to the corresponding sheet (22), and the printed material web (15) is processed further in a further processing system (3), which comprises a longitudinal cutting station (5), in which the material web (15) is cut in its longitudinal direction, a cross-cutting station (6), in which the material web (15) is cut transversely with respect to its longitudinal direction, a first gathering station (8), in which the sheets (22) of one section (23) in each case are laid on one another, a cross-folding station (10), in which the sheets (22) of one section (23), lying on one another, are folded transversely with respect to the direction of movement (Y) of the sheets (22), a longitudinal folding station (11), in which the sheets (22) of a section (23), lying on one another, are folded in the direction of movement (Y) of the sheets (22), a second gathering station (13), in which a number of sections (23), each of which is formed by folded sheets (22), are inserted into one another, and an output station (14) for outputting the finished newspapers (29), it being possible for various types of newspaper to be produced and, in the process, the cutting of the material web (15) in the longitudinal cutting station (5) and/or the folding of the sheets (22) of a section (23), lying on one another, in the cross-folding station or the longitudinal folding station (11) and/or the insertion of sections (23) into one another in the second gathering station (13) being omitted, depending on the type of production, format and/or composition of the newspaper (29) to be produced in each case.
2. Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that the folded sheets (22) of a section (23) are joined to one another along the fold (25), preferably by stitching.
3. Process according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a material strip is cut away from the material web (15), on one side edge or both side edges of the latter, preferably after the material web (15) has been printed.
4. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the successive regions (18) of the material web (15), subregions (19, 19') lying beside one another, of which each subregion (19, 19') corresponds to a sheet (22) of a section (23), are printed with information, in that the printed material web (15) is first cut in the longitudinal cutting station (5) and then cut in the cross-cutting station (6), and the sheets (22) of one section (23) in each case are laid on one another in the first gathering station (8) and then, one after another, the sheets (22) of one section (23) in each case, lying on one another, are folded in the longitudinal folding station (11) and are finally output at the output station (14) (Figs 2 and 6).
5. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the successive regions (18) of the material web (15), subregions (19, 19') lying beside one another, of which each subregion (19, 19') corresponds to a sheet (22) of a section (23), are printed with information, in that the printed material web (15) is first cut in the longitudinal cutting station (5) and then cut in the cross-cutting station (6), and the sheets (22) of one section (23) in each case are laid on one another in the first gathering station (8) in that then, one after another, the sheets (22) of one section (23) in each case, lying on one another, are folded in the longitudinal folding station (11) and in that, in order to form newspapers (29) comprising at least two sections (23, 23'), in each case a number of sections (23, 23') are inserted into one another in the second gathering station (13) and the finished newspapers (29) are output at the output station (14) (Fig. 7).
6. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the material web (15) printed in respectively successive regions (18) is cut in the cross-cutting station (6) and the sheets (22) of one section (23) in each case are laid on one another in the first gathering station (8), in that then, one after another, the sheets (22) of one section (23) in each case, lying on one another, are first folded in the cross-folding station (10) and are then folded in the longitudinal folding station (11) and in that, in order to form newspapers (29) comprising at least two sections (23, 23a), in each case a number of sections (23, 23a) are inserted into one another in the second gathering station (13) and the finished newspapers (29) are output at the output station (14) (Fig. 4).
7. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the material web (15) printed in respectively successive regions (18) is cut in the cross-cutting station (6) and the sheets (22) of one section (23) in each case are laid on one another in the first gathering station (8), in that then, one after another, the sheets (22) of one section (23) in each case, lying on one another, are folded in the longitudinal folding station (11) and the finished newspapers (29) are output at the output station (14) (Fig. 9) .
8. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a first partial product (34) is produced first in such a way that, in the successive regions (18 - 18b) of a first portion (17) of the material web (15), subregions (19, 19') lying beside one another, of which each subregion (19, 19') corresponds to a sheet (22, 22') of this first partial product (34), are printed with information, in that this first portion (17) of the printed material web (15) is first cut in the longitudinal cutting station (5) and then cut in the cross-cutting station (6), and the sheets (22) of the first partial product (34) are laid on one another in the first gathering station (8) and the sheets (22) of this first partial product (34), lying on one another, are then folded in the longitudinal folding station (11), in that at least one second partial product (section 23a) is produced in such a way that, in a second portion (17') of the material web (15), successive regions (18c - 18e) are printed, this second portion (17') of the printed material web (15) is cut in the cross-cutting station (6) and the sheets (22) of this second partial product (23a) are laid on one another in the first gathering station (8), in that then the sheets (22) of the second partial product (23a), lying on one another, are first folded in the cross-folding station (10) and are then folded in the longitudinal folding station (11), and in that finally, in order to form a newspaper (29) comprising at least the first and second partial products (34, 23a), the first partial product (34) and the at least one second partial product (23a) are inserted into one another in the second gathering station (13) and the finished newspaper (29) is output at the output station (14) (Fig. 8).
9. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in the material web (15) is coloured before or after being printed.
10. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the information is printed onto the material web (15) in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the material web (15) or transversely with respect thereto.
11. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, in one and the same apparatus (1), comprising the digital printing system (2) and the further processing system (3) connected downstream of the former, both newspapers (29) in the tabloid format and newspapers in another format, in particular broadsheet newspapers, are produced.
12. Apparatus for carrying out the process according to one of Claims 1 to 11, having a digital printing system and a further processing system (3), which is connected downstream of the digital printing system (2), for the further processing of the material web (15) printed in the digital printing system (2), and which comprises a longitudinal cutting station (5), for cutting the material web (15) in its longitudinal direction, a cross-cutting station (6) for cutting the material web (15) transversely with respect to its longitudinal direction, a first gathering station (8) for laying the sheets (22) of one section (23) in each case on one another, a cross-folding station (10), for folding the sheets (22) of one section (23), lying on one another, transversely with respect to the direction of movement (Y) of the sheets (22), a longitudinal folding station (11) for folding the sheets (22) of a section (23), lying on one another, in the direction of movement (Y) of the sheets (22), a second gathering station (13) for inserting a number of sections (23), each of which is formed by folded sheets (22), into one another, and an output station (14) for outputting the finished newspapers (29), the longitudinal cutting station (5) and/or the cross-folding station (10) or the longitudinal folding station (11) and/or the second gathering station (13) being deactivated from case to case for the production of different types of newspaper, depending on the type of production, format and/or composition of the newspaper (29) to be produced in each case.
13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, characterized by a joining station (12), which can be deactivated from case to case, for joining the folded and interleaved sheets (22) of a section (23) along the fold (25).
14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, characterized in that the joining station is a stitching station (12).
15. Apparatus according to one of Claims 12 to 14, characterized by a side edge cutting station (4) for cutting away a material strip along one side edge or along both side edges of the material web (15).
16. Apparatus according to one of Claims 12 to 15, characterized by a colouring unit for colouring the material web (15).
17. Apparatus according to one of Claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the stations (4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13) of the further processing system (3) are arranged along an angled processing path, the material web (15) and the sheets (22) respectively passing through the longitudinal cutting station (5), the cross-cutting station (6) and the first gathering station (8) in a first conveying direction (X), which runs at right angles to a second conveying direction (Y), in which the sheets (22) pass through the remaining stations (10, 11, 12, 13) of the further processing system (3).
18. Apparatus according to one of Claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the stations (4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13) of the further processing system (3) are arranged along a processing path that runs linearly.

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