EP2246283B1 - Device and method for processing printed products - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for processing printed products, in which the printed products fed individually along a feed line and transferred to a further processing line for further processing, wherein for each individual supplied print product and for each transfer of exactly one print product to the further processing path containing transfer a the wherein the printed products are transferred from the feed path via a memory device designed for receiving a number of printed products to the further processing path and wherein it is determined in dependence on a first control signal whether the supplied printed product for which the control signal is produced, is passed to the further processing line and the printed products along the feed path with a number of for conveying each a printed product gripper conveyors having elegant grippers and are released from the grippers as a function of the first control signals, and a device operable to carry out such methods.

In the processing of printed products, they are printed with a rotary printing press having a usually predetermined printing speed and then subjected to further processing operations, such as folding operations, cutting operations, stapling operations, insertions or the like. The processing speeds of the individual processing operations may differ. In a continuous production, also referred to as "on-line production", the overall production speed must be at the slowest operating speed Further processing process can be set. This reduces overall productivity.

To avoid these problems, it has already been proposed to temporarily store the printed products in buffer systems after individual further processing operations, for example to wind them up on a winding system, and to remove the printed products to be subjected to the following further processing from the buffer system or unwind from the winding system. This is regularly associated with a special effort, because on the one hand a buffer system must be provided and on the other hand conventional buffer systems require additional measures for further processing the cached printed products, such as turning systems od. Like .. Corresponding methods are, for example, in the EP 0 272 398 A1 , of the WO 94/02398 and the CH 664 138 A5 as well as the CH 655 076 A5 described.

In the DE19523164A1 discloses a method for operating a transfer device for printed products, in which transferred at a receiving location held in grippers of a feeder print products to rotating grippers of the transfer device, conveyed over a buffer path and then delivered to a delivery point to a further processing device. A connected to a machine control switching element is controlled so that each gripper of the transfer device in the receiving position takes over a printed product from the feeder. With the transfer device thus gaps in the printed product stream of the feeder are closed and generated in the further processing device, a continuous, seamless print product stream. If n transfer devices are arranged along the feed device, in each case only every nth printed product is removed from the feed device in one of the receiving points by means of the controlled switching element. The speed of the feeder must be n times faster than the speed of the further processing device. The transfer of the printed products from the grippers of the Überaabeeinrichtung to the further processing means is uncontrolled periodically in time.

In view of the problems described in connection with the use of buffer systems, it has also been proposed to distribute the print product stream reaching a slow-moving further processing device to a plurality of possibly similar further processing devices. Then, only every second, third or fourth printed product of the incoming print product stream is fed to a specific further processing device, thus at a particularly high feed rate of the printed products also to allow a slow further processing with two, three or more processing facilities, without having to reduce the overall production speed. In this case, the supplied printed product stream is divided with fixed distribution ratios in two, three or more streams. It has been shown that although a high production speed can be achieved with these methods, the performance of the further processing machines is often not fully utilized.

In view of the problems of the prior art described above, it is an object of the invention to provide methods for processing printed products which can optimally utilize the performance of individual further processing devices without impairing the overall production speed, and to provide devices for carrying out corresponding methods.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in procedural respect by a development of the known method, which is characterized essentially in that is determined in response to a second control signal when the transfer process for which the second control signal is generated takes place, and the control signals in dependence are generated by the number of recorded in the memory device printed products, wherein the further processing path to be determined in response to the second control signals and / or determined in response to the second control signals times further printed products, and by the other printed products a gap print product stream along the further processing path is generated.

The invention is based on the finding that the poor utilization of the performance of further processing facilities in the use of the known method for dividing supplied printed product streams is due to the fact that the division is carried out according to fixed distribution ratios, which is determined by the number of available further processing facilities. As a result, the further processing speed of the further processing device is coupled directly to the feed rate and can not be further influenced.

In the execution of inventive method, however, a dynamic control or regulation of the further processing of the printed products take place, because for each individual printed product or for each individual handover a further treatment of the printed product determining control signal is generated, so that there is no fixed distribution, but a dynamic adjustment of the print product transfer to the production conditions is possible.

In the first alternative method proposed in the context of the invention, a control signal is generated for each individual supplied printed product. If there is a control signal in the form of an enable signal for the supplied printed product, the corresponding printed product is transferred to the further processing line. If, on the other hand, a control signal in the form of a hold signal is present, the corresponding printed product is not handed over, but transferred from the supply line to an alternative further processing line or fed to a storage device. This process alternative is intended for those process operations in which the printed products are processed at a higher speed, i. H. supplied with a higher number of supplied printed products per time, can be done as the further processing. By the dynamic control of the transfer of the printed products to the processing line or the removal of the printed products from the supplied printed product stream is achieved that exactly the amount of printed products is removed from the supplied printed product stream, which can also be further processed by the further processing device without causing a "Print product jam" comes before the finishing device.

The second method alternative is intended in particular for those production processes in which the further processing can take place at a higher speed, ie with a higher number of further processed printed products per time, than the supply of the printed products. Such a case can occur, for example, if the further processing has a plurality of further processing steps, of which a further processing step carried out first is more complicated than a further processing step carried out subsequently. In this case, all supplied printed products are also transferred to the further processing device, without thereby the performance of the further processing device is fully utilized. However, the individual control of the transfer by generating a control signal for each transfer of exactly one print product containing transfer process a well-defined feed the processing line with printed products, so that the further processing route, possibly using an additional feeder, further printed products are supplied can, so as to allow a gapless print product flow along the processing line and thus optimum utilization of the performance of the processing device.

As can be seen from the above explanation, in the method according to the invention , it is determined as a function of a first control signal whether the supplied print product reaching a transfer area, for which the first control signal is generated, is transferred to the further processing line and / or as a function of a second Control signal determines when the transfer operation, for which the second control signal is generated takes place. The control signals are expediently generated as a function of the feed rate, ie the number of printed products fed per time, and depending on the further processing speed, ie the number of printed products processed further per time.

In view of the possibility that the supplied printed product stream may have gaps, and the fact that unexpected problems may occur during further processing, it has proved to be expedient in the context of the invention to ensure friction-free production with optimum production speed when the printed products are transferred from the supply line via a designed for receiving a number of printed products storage device to the further processing device and the control signals are generated in dependence on the number of recorded in the memory device printed products. In the method according to the invention, the printed products taken from the feed device or feed section are thus first supplied to a storage device and then transferred from the storage device to the further processing path. If the supplied printed product stream has detectable gaps, for example with a photocell, the second control signals can be influenced such that no more printed products are transferred from the storage device to the further processing device. In this case, any gaps in the printed product stream of the further processing device may possibly be filled with the aid of a further feeding device connected downstream of the storage device. In the case of small, not readily detectable with a photocell, gaps in the supplied print product stream, the removal of printed products from the storage device causes the level of printed products in the storage device decreases. In this case, the further processing speed can be slightly lowered starting from the desired further processing speed in order to restore a desired one To obtain level of printed products in the storage device. Overall, using storage means and dynamic print product handover using control signals for each individual print product or handoff, it is possible to vary the actual processing speed depending on the prevailing production conditions or the fill level of the memory device by a setpoint for the further processing speed , The difference between the actual further processing speed and the setpoint value for the further processing speed is also referred to below as the "control offset".

The invention is used with particular advantage in a further processing of the printed products using insertion machines, in which inserts are placed in finished printed products. For this purpose, the printed products are preferably conveyed along the further processing path in open-topped pockets of a pocket conveyor, wherein these bags are loaded in response to the other control signals with printed products, which may be removed from a storage device. In this case, the storage device and the transfer device used for removing the printed products can be realized in the context of the invention in the form of a conventional Druckproduktanlegers.

Control technology, it has proved to be particularly advantageous if the printed products with a clocked feeder, esp. Gripper conveyors are conveyed along the feed and exactly for each conveyor cycle in which exactly one printed product passes through a removal point of the feed, a first control signal (enable signal or hold signal ) is produced. In this case, the control can be carried out such that for each conveyor cycle, a cycle number representing this conveyor cycle cycle is compared with a holding number determined on the basis of the feed rate and the further processing speed, and a first control signal in the form of a hold signal initiating the holding of a printed product on the feed line is generated in the form of a hold signal Number of cycles corresponds to the holding number, while a release of a printed product inducing first control signal is generated in the form of an enable signal, if the number of cycles and holding number do not match. In this case, the holding number can be increased by a predetermined and expediently on the basis of the feed rate and the processing speed certain adjustment number after generating a stop signal. In terms of a particularly dynamic control, it has proven to be expedient if the number of cycles and the holding number are reset to 0 when reaching a predetermined limit number, so as to start a new control or control cycle.

As already explained above, the performance of the further processing device can be optimally utilized under all operating conditions in which the further processing speed is higher than the feed speed, if the further processing path at determined in response to the second control signals and / or in dependence on the second control signals determined times further printed products are supplied, which is generated by these other printed products, a gapless print product stream along the further processing path.

As can be seen from the above explanation of inventive methods, a device according to the invention for processing printed products with a feeding device, with which the printed products are individually conveyed along a feed path, a further processing device operable to convey the printed products along a further processing line, a transfer device for transferring printed products from the feed device to the further processing device, and a control device operable to control the transfer of the printed products, wherein the control device for generating, the further treatment of the printed products determining, control signals for each individual supplied print product or for each transfer of exactly one print product to the further processing device containing transfer process is operable and wherein the transfer device designed for receiving a number of printed products Sp in which, depending on a first control signal generated by the control device, it is possible to determine whether the supplied printed product for which the control signal is generated is transferred to the further processing path and the feed device comprises a gripper conveyor, which has a number of grippers designed to convey respectively one printed product, wherein the printed products can be released from the grippers as a function of the first control signals are substantially characterized in that in response to a second control signal generated by the control means, it is possible to determine when the transfer operation for which the second control signal is generated takes place, and the control signals can be generated as a function of the number of printed products recorded in the storage device are, and that the further processing means is associated with a further feeding device for supplying printed products to the further processing path, so that the further processing path to be determined in response to the second control signals and / or determined in response to the second control signals other printed products are fed through the further printed products a gapless print product stream along the further processing path can be generated.

In order to ensure optimum production performance, the memory device may comprise a detection device designed to detect the amount of printed products deposited therein and to apply corresponding detection signals to the control device, wherein the control device is operable to generate control signals in response to the detection signals. The control device is expediently designed for setting the feed speed of the feed device and / or the further processing speed of the further processing device and for generating the control signals as a function of the feed speed and / or the further processing speed, wherein the further processing device additionally comprises a feed device, which is suitably controlled by the control device, for feeding printed products the further processing line can be assigned.

• Fig. 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und
• Fig. 2 ein Flußdiagramm zur Erläuterung erfindungsgemäßer Verfahren.

The invention will be explained with reference to the drawing, to which reference is expressly made with respect to all essential to the invention and in the description unspecified highlighted details. In the drawing shows:

• Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a device according to the invention and
• Fig. 2 a flowchart for explaining inventive method.

In the Fig. 1 The device shown comprises a feed device designed as a gripper conveyor (20), a control device designated as a total of 70, a further processing device, designated as a plug-in machine, and a further feed device 60 associated with the inserter 50. The gripper conveyor 20 produces printed products 10 with grippers 22 detected at a Druckproduktfalz and downwardly supported in the direction indicated by the arrow P direction along an optionally curved feed path. In this case, the feed speed V ₁ can be predetermined, for example, by the printing speed of a rotary printing press.

The transfer device 30 comprises a release device 32 and two conveyor belts 34 and 36, on which the printed products 10 in the form of a scale flow of a storage device 38 are supplied. With the release device 32, the grippers 22 of the gripper conveyor 20 can be selectively opened in response to control signals applied thereto via a line 78 so as to release the printed products 10 detected thereon and deposit them on the conveyor belt 34. In this case, for each the corresponding release point 24 passing print product 10 or for each gripper 22, a control signal is generated and applied via a signal line 78 from the controller 70 to the release device 32. With the control signal either the release of the printed product 10 or the holding of the printed product 10 in the corresponding gripper 22 is caused. The released printed products 10 are conveyed with the conveyor belts 34 and 36 in the form of a scale flow in a storage device 38, from which they can be withdrawn by means of a stripper 40 and inserted into pockets 52 of a pocket conveyor 50 of the inserter. In this case, the inlet velocity V _{2 of} the inlet conveyor is controlled by the control device 70 via a signal line 80. The removal of individual printed products 10 from the memory device 38 causing control signals are applied via a signal line 82 from the controller 70 to the stripper 40. Pockets 52 of the pocket conveyor which are not loaded by the stripping device 40 with printed products 10 can be charged with printed products 10 with the aid of a further feed device 60, as indicated, for example, at 52a. The number of printed products 10 stored in the memory device 38 is detected by a detection device 90 and corresponding detection signals are applied to the control device 70 via a signal line 76. Via a signal line 74, a further processing speed V _{3 of} the inserting machine 50 is applied by the control device 70 to the inserting machine 50. In this case, the further processing speed V ₃ corresponds to the desired further processing speed V _4, which may have been modified by the control offset.

Overall, when operating in Fig. 1 shown device for each individual with the grippers 22 of the gripper conveyor 20 fed printed product 10, a control signal to the release device 32 are applied. Further, for each individual pocket 52 of the inserter 50, a trigger signal may be applied to the peel-off device 40 so as to ensure optimal production performance. Here, the processing speed V ₃ of the inserter 50 are adjusted by the control device 70 and then to a change in processing speed V _3, an adjustment of the voltage applied to the release means 32 control signals, the conveying speed V ₂ of the feed conveyor 34, 36 and the voltage applied to the peeling means 40 control signals respectively. Gaps in the stream of supplied printed products 10 can be compensated by stored in the memory device 38 printed products 10. If problems occur in the further processing in the inserter 50, released printed products 10 can be cached in the memory device 38. To compensate for these production fluctuations, the control signals applied via the signal lines 78 and 82 to the release device 32 and the stripper 40 can be generated as a function of the quantity detected by the detection device 90 in the memory device 38. To compensate for possible production fluctuations, the further processing speed V _{3 of} the inserting machine 50 can fluctuate by a control offset by a desired further processing speed V ₄ . The target further processing speed V ₄ can be adjusted by means of an adjusting device assigned to the control device 70 and not shown in the drawing. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the target further processing speed V _{4 of} the inserting machine 50 has been increased. This can be seen in the fact that the gaps between the further transported by the gripper conveyor 20 printed products 10 in the operating state shown in the drawing from the left edge of the image to the right edge of the image are larger, which is synonymous with that more printed products 10 of the gripper conveyor 20 at the pocket conveyor or the insertion machine 50 were passed.

• In diesem Bespiel ist die Zuführgeschwindigkeit des Greiferförderers 20 durch die Produktionsmaschine der Druckmaschine auf 60.000 Exemplare pro Stunde festgelegt, während die Weiterverarbeitungsgeschwindigkeit 40.000 Exemplare beträgt. Es können also nur 66,6 % der zugeführten Druckprodukte 10 weiterverarbeitet werden. Das bedeutet, daß jedes Dritte der zugeführten Druckprodukte 10 den Übergabebereich am Greiferförderer 20 hängend passieren muß bzw. eine entsprechende Aufteilung des zugeführten Druckproduktstroms mit einem "Splitt-Schritt" von 3 erforderlich ist. Die Splitt-Rate beträgt in diesem Fall 66,6%. Allgemein kann die Splitt-Rate ausgedrückt werden durch: $$\mathrm{S}=100\cdot \frac{V_4}{{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="1"\; label="V"\; filenames="imgf0001.png,imgf0002.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">V</figure-callout>}}_1}\left[\%\right],$$
  
  
  während der Splitt-Schritt ausgedrückt werden kann durch: $$\frac{100}{\left(100-\mathrm{Splittrate}\right)}\left[\mathrm{Anzahl\; Takte}\right]$$
  

The mode of operation of devices according to the invention or the execution of methods according to the invention will be explained below with reference to an example:

• In this example, the feed rate of the gripper conveyor 20 is set by the production machine of the printing machine to 60,000 copies per hour, while the further processing speed is 40,000 copies. Thus, only 66.6% of the supplied printed products 10 can be further processed. This means that every third of the supplied printed products 10 must pass through the transfer area on the gripper conveyor 20 or a corresponding division of the supplied printed product stream with a "split step" of 3 required is. The split rate in this case is 66.6%. In general, the split rate can be expressed by: $$\mathrm{S}=100\cdot \frac{V_4}{{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="1"\; label="V"\; filenames="imgf0001.png,imgf0002.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">V</figure-callout>}}_1}\left[\%\right].$$
  
  
  while the split step can be expressed by: $$\frac{100}{\left(100-\mathrm{Split\; rate}\right)}\left[\mathrm{Number\; of\; bars}\right]$$
  

$$\mathrm{Abzugsschritt}=\frac{100}{\left(100-\mathrm{Abzugsrate}\right)}\left[\mathrm{Anzahl\; Takte}\right]$$

It is assumed that a clocked feeder is used, in which per fed cycle a printed product 10 passes the transfer point 24. If the target processing speed V _{4 of} the further processing device 50 is higher than the feed speed V _{1 of} the feeder 20, a deduction rate for the stripper 40 and a deduction step are respectively calculated: $$\mathrm{A}=100\cdot \frac{V_1}{V_4}\left[\%\right]$$

$$\mathrm{deduction\; step}=\frac{100}{\left(100-\mathrm{deduction\; rate}\right)}\left[\mathrm{Number\; of\; bars}\right]$$

1. 1. V₁ > V₄. In diesem Fall muß der Strom zugeführter Druckprodukte 10 aufgeteilt werden. Es werden nur so viele Druckprodukte 10 aus dem Strom zugeführter Druckprodukte 10 entnommen, wie weiterverarbeitet werden. Prinzipiell wird immer entnommen und jeweils bei Erreichen eines Splitt-Schrittes ein Haltesignal für die Freigabeeinrichtung 32 erzeugt.
2. 2. V₁ = V₄. In diesem Fall ist keine Aufteilung des Stromes zugeführter Druckprodukte 10 erforderlich. In diesem Fall werden alle Druckprodukte 10 vom Greiferförderer 20 an den Einlaufförderer 34, 36 übergeben und alle Druckprodukte 10 werden mit der Abzieheinrichtung 40 an die Einsteckmaschine 50 übergeben.
3. 3. V₁ < V₄. In diesem Fall erfolgt eine Aufteilung der zugeführten Druckprodukte 10 auf die Taschen 52 der Weiterverarbeitungseinrichtung 50. Dabei werden alle zugeführten Druckprodukte 10 weiterverarbeitet, allerdings auf die Taschen 52 verteilt. Das wird durch entsprechende Ansteuerung der Abzieheinrichtung 40 bei Erreichen eines Abzugsschrittes bewirkt.

Nachstehend wird ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens anhand des in Fig. 2 dargestellten Flußdiagramms erläutert.The following cases may occur:

1. 1. V ₁ > V ₄ . In this case, the power of supplied printed products 10 must be split. Only so many printed products 10 are removed from the stream of supplied printed products 10, as further processed. In principle, it is always removed and a holding signal for the release device 32 is generated when a splitting step is reached.
2. 2. V ₁ = V ₄ . In this case, no division of the flow of supplied printed products 10 is required. In this case, all printed products 10 are transferred from the gripper conveyor 20 to the infeed conveyor 34, 36 and all printed products 10 are transferred to the inserter 50 with the stripping device 40.
3. 3. V ₁ <V ₄ . In this case, a distribution of the supplied printed products 10 takes place on the pockets 52 of the further processing device 50. In this case, all supplied printed products 10 are further processed, but distributed to the pockets 52. This is effected by appropriate control of the stripper 40 upon reaching a withdrawal step.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method according to the invention with reference to the in Fig. 2 illustrated flowchart explained.

Upon execution of the method, it is checked in step S1 whether a printed product 10 reaches a release point 24 of the feed device. If a print product 10 reaches the release point 24, a cycle number (NbrClocks) is incremented (step S2). At the same time it is checked whether the number of cycles one explained in the reference to the drawing. Embodiment has reached a value of 100 set limit number. If the value of 100 is exceeded, the clock number is reset to 0 (step S4). If the number of cycles has not yet exceeded the value of 100, the number of cycles is compared in step S5 with a holding number UINT (nextSplittStep + 0.5). If the number of cycles does not correspond to the holding number, an enable signal (acceptCopy: = 1) for the corresponding printed product 10 is generated in step S7 and applied to the enabling device 32 so that the corresponding printed product 10 is deposited on the infeed conveyor 34 and further processing in the inserting machine 50 is supplied. If it is determined in step S5 that the number of cycles corresponds to the holding number, it is checked in step S8 whether the holding number is not equal to 100 and if it is determined that the holding number is not equal to 100, generates a hold signal (acceptCopy: = 0) and to the Release device 32 applied so that the corresponding printed product 10 is further promoted on the gripper 22 hanging along the feed line. At the same time, in step S6, the holding number is increased by one split step, which is calculated as explained above.

Above, methods according to the invention for the distribution of supplied printed products have been explained. In the event that the further processing speed is higher than the feed rate, there is a division of the supplied printed products to the individual pockets of the further processing device accordingly.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment explained with reference to the drawing. The supply of printed products can also be done with differently designed feeders. Similarly, the further processing of printed products in different executed processing machines done. The inlet conveyor can be readily realized in the form of a single conveyor belt. Other changes in the illustrated with the drawing embodiment of the invention will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (12)

1. Method for processing printed products (10) wherein the printed products (10) are individually fed along a feeding path and are individually transferred to a further processing path for further processing, wherein for each individually fed printed product (10) and for each transfer process comprising the transfer of precisely one printed product (10) to the further processing path, a control signal determining the further processing of the printed product (10) is generated and wherein the printed products (10) are transferred from the feeding path via a storage device (38) configured for accommodating a number of printed products (10) to the further processing path and wherein, depending on a first control signal, it is determined whether the printed product (10) fed in for which the control signal is generated, is passed on to the further processing path and the printed products (10) are conveyed along the feeding path with a gripper conveyor (20) which has a number of grippers (22) which are each configured to convey a printed product (10), and depending on the first control signals, are released from the grippers (22), characterised in that, depending on a second control signal, it is determined when the transfer process, for which the second control signal is generated, takes place and the control signals are generated depending on the number of printed products (10) accommodated in the storage device (38), wherein further printed products (10) are fed to the further processing path at points determined depending on the second control signals and/or at times determined depending on the second control signals, and by means of the further printed products (10) a gap-free product stream is generated along the further processing path.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the printed products (10) fed along the feeding path have a feed velocity (V₁) and the printed products (10) further processed along the further processing path have a further processing velocity (V₃) and the further printed products (10) are fed to the further processing path if the further processing velocity (V₃) is higher than the feed velocity (V₁).
3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control signals are generated depending on the number of printed products (10) fed per unit time and depending on the printed products (10) further processed per unit time.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the printed products (10) are conveyed along the further processing path in pockets (52) of a pocket conveyor and the pockets (52) are supplied with printed products (10) in response to the second control signals.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the printed products (10) are conveyed with a clocked gripper conveyor (20) along the feeding path and for each conveying clock cycle during which precisely one printed product (10) passes a removal site of the feeding path, precisely one first control signal is generated.
6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that for each conveying clock cycle, a clock cycle count which represents said conveying clock cycle is compared with a halt count determined on the basis of the feed velocity (V₁) and the further processing velocity (V₃) and a first control signal in the form of a halt signal initiating the halting of a printed product (10) on the feeding path is generated if the clock cycle count corresponds to the halt count, whilst a first control signal in the form of a release signal initiating the release of a printed product (10) is generated if the clock cycle count and the halt count do not match.
7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that the halt count is incremented by a pre-determined matching count (split step) after halting of a printed product (10), wherein preferably the clock cycle count and the halt count are reset after reaching a limit count.
8. Device for processing printed products (10) comprising a feeding device with which the printed products (10) can be individually conveyed along a feeding path, a further processing device (50) which can be driven to convey the printed products (10) along a further processing path, a transfer device (30) for transferring printed products (10) from the feeding device to the further processing device (50), and a control device (70) which can be operated for controlling the transfer of the printed products (10), wherein the control device (70) can be operated to generate control signals for each individual printed product (10) supplied, said control signals determining the further processing of the printed products (10) or for each transfer process containing the transfer of precisely one printed product (10) to the further processing device (50) and wherein the transfer device (30) comprises a storage device (38) configured for accommodating a number of printed products (10), from which storage device (38) the printed products (10) can be transferred to the further processing device (50) and wherein, depending on a first control signal generated by the control device (70), it can be determined whether the printed product (10) supplied for which the control signal is generated is transferred to the further processing path and the feeding device comprises a gripper conveyor (20) which has a number of grippers (22) which are each configured to convey a printed product (10), wherein the printed products (10) can be released from the grippers (22) depending on the first control signals, characterised in that, depending on a second control signal generated by the control device (70), it can be determined when the transfer process, for which the second control signal is generated, takes place and the control signals can be generated depending on the number of printed products (10) accommodated in the storage device (38), and in that a further feeding device (60) for feeding printed products (10) to the further processing path is associated with the further processing device (50), so that further printed products (10) can be fed to the further processing path at points determined depending on the second control signals and/or at times determined depending on the second control signals, and by means of the further printed products (10), a gap-free product stream can be generated along the further processing path.
9. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the printed products (10) fed along the feeding path have a feed velocity (V₁) and the printed products (10) further processed along the further processing path have a further processing velocity (V₃) and the further printed products (10) can be fed to the further processing path if the further processing velocity (V₃) is higher than the feed velocity (V₁).
10. Device according to one of the claims 8 or 9, characterised in that the control signals can be generated depending on the number of printed products (10) fed in per unit time and depending on the printed products (10) further processed per unit time.
11. Device according to one of the claims 8 to 10, characterised in that associated with the storage device (38) is a detection device (90) configured for detecting the quantity of printed products (10) accommodated therein and for emitting suitable detection signals to the control device (70) and the control device (70) can be operated to generate control signals depending on the detection signals.
12. Device according to one of the claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the control device (70) is configured for controlling the feed velocity (V₁) of the feeding device and/or the further processing velocity (V₃) of the further processing device (50) and for generating the control signals depending on the feed velocity (V₁) and/or the further processing velocity (V₃).

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