EP2361785B1 - Method of binding printed products with a binding machine and a binding machine for carrying out the method. - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for stapling printed products with a stapling machine having at least one stapling head running with a printed product conveyed in a product running direction and at least one follower wrapping device, with method steps according to the preamble of claim 1 and a stapling machine according to the preamble of claim 7.

Methods for stapling printed products such as brochures, magazines and the like have long been known. For example, the EP-A-1629992 a method in which individual sheets are collected on the gathering chain of a saddle stitcher to print products and saddle-shaped conveyed to a stapler. The staple used for stapling is formed in a stapling head of the stapler, which has a driver and a bender in a conventional manner. The driven by the printed product staple is closed with a Umbiegereinrichtung. Between the stapling head and the Umbiegereinrichtung there is a gap through which to be stapled printed products and thereby stapled. To convert to printed products with modified product thickness, the stapling head is moved manually or vertically by motor.

With the EP-A-0958942 is a wire stitching machine has become known in which an adaptation to different thicknesses of stapled printed products is possible even during a processing job. For this purpose, the bending device is supported from below in such a way that it can move downwards with corresponding changes in thickness of the printed products to be stapled. Provided is a handwheel with which a Umbiegeträger an eccentric to the thickness of the thinnest printed product to be processed is adjustable. If the wire stitching machine fed thicker printed products, the Umbiegeträger gives way under the counter force of a spring the down. To adapt to very thick, voluminous printed products, the control curves of the stapler are replaced.

By the EP-A-1769937 is a stapler with above the stapling head arranged adjusting means become known. In order to adapt to the different thickness of successive printed products in the processing sequence, the stapling head is designed to be vertically displaceable with the aid of this adjusting means.

It is increasingly necessary to staple also formed from a relatively large number of compiled before the stapling sheet, voluminous printed products. The volume of such a printed product not only contributes to the number of collated sheets, but also their fold and the trapped air between the individual sheet. The printed products to be stapled may have a thickness of more than 20 mm. However, correct stapling of such bulky printed products is difficult. Although a larger stroke is needed to staple bulky printed products, there is usually no more time to staple less bulky printed products. To ensure reliable and correct stapling, voluminous printed products must be precompressed before being introduced into the stapling machine. However, the printed products are greatly deformed, especially rolled. In this way, markings, tears and folded sheets can arise. Such faulty printed products must be removed.

Finally, with the EP-A-1419898 a device for the production of printed matter, according to the preamble of claim 7 (and a method according to the preamble of claim 1), known, can be stapled with the successive printed products of different thickness without having to make manual intervention on the Einstellmittein the device. For this purpose, in addition to a device for thickness measurement and a controller connected thereto, the device has an adjusting means designed as a rotation angle-controlled electric motor and likewise connected to the control, with which a bending device can be adjusted to a specific thickness of the printed products to be stapled and, in addition, at a compared to a leading printed product changed thickness of a subsequent print product in its altitude is adjusted accordingly. The use of a rotational angle controlled electric motor allows on the one hand a very variable adjustment and adjustment of the altitude of the Umbiegereinrichtung, but on the other hand leads to a not insignificant increase in the cost of the device. In particular, this is the case when retrofitting an already equipped with a manual height adjustment device with adjusting means for adjusting the altitude of the Umbiegereinrichtung the case.

The invention has for its object to provide a cost-effective method and a corresponding stapler with which even bulky printed products can be stapled correctly and functionally reliable easily and without loss of performance.

The object is achieved in a generic method in that determined before inserting the printed product to be stapled whose thickness, the determined value with a predetermined limit and the Umbiegereinrichtung exceeding this limit from a first, matched to the thickness of the printed products to be stapled position is moved to a predetermined second position, which is further away from the stapling head transversely to the product running direction than the first position assumed during the stapling process. After the introduction of the printed product between the stapling head and Umbiegereinrichtung the latter is moved transversely to the product direction back to its first position in which the staple is driven into the printed product. If the predetermined limit is not exceeded, the Umbiegereinrichtung remains in the first position, this adjustability of the Umbiegereinrichtung from its first to the second position and vice versa allows to staple even bulky printed products easily and without loss of performance correctly and functionally reliable.

For this purpose, in each of the stapling machine supplied printed product is tested in advance, whether the distance between the stapling head and Umbiegereinrichtung for an unobstructed supply is sufficiently large. If this is not the case, ie when supplying a voluminous printed product which exceeds the predetermined limit value, the bending device is removed from the stapling head to the predetermined second position, see also FIG that the printed product can be supplied freely. After feeding the printed product, the Umbiegereinrichtung performs in addition to and in each case before the closing movement of the staple movement from the stapling head out, ie it is spent from its second to the first position. In addition, the stapling head performs a printing product fixing and / or compressing movement. After stapling the Umbiegereinrichtung remains in this first position and the stapling head moves away from the Umbiegereinrichtung or from the printed product.

Due to the retracted second position of the Umbiegereinrichtung the supply of stapled print product is limited only by the distance of the stapling head to the gathering chain. The Umbiegereinrichtung thus no longer limits the available space, which is why the previously required prior to insertion into the stapling machine precompressing the printed products can be avoided.

If the leaking printed product is introduced into the stapling machine, the bending device executes its movement towards the stapling head and this begins to compress the printed product. As a result, the printed product can be fixed in a comparatively short time and compressed at the same time. The printed product is now fixed in the first position of the Umbiegereinrichtung between this and the stapling head, so that now the staple can be inserted and closed on the side of Umbiegereinrichtung. After stitching, the stapling head is removed from the printed product and the Umbiegereinrichtung, whereby the just stapled print product is released and can be removed, so that the stapler is ready for the supply of the next printed product.

In the method according to the invention, the distance between the bending device and the stapling head present when inserting a non-stapled printed product can thus be increased in comparison to the known solutions of the prior art according to the thickness of the printed product to be stapled. Therefore, non-precompressed, relatively bulky printed products can be stapled. Due to the larger passage can be avoided that individual sheets of the not yet stapled printed product during insertion abut in the stapler on the stapling head and move against each other or even lifted from each other and damaged.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the Umbiegereinrichtung is moved in each case vertically to the stapling head or away from the stapling head. Such vertical movements can be realized very reliable and with relatively simple mechanical means.

Preferably, in this case the stapling head is arranged above the Umbiegereinrichtung. In principle, however, a design is conceivable in which the Umbiegereinrichtung is arranged above the stapling head. In the preferred embodiment, prior to insertion of the printed product between the stapling head and the clincher, the clincher is returned from its first position down to the second position and after insertion of the printed product back to the first position. After stapling of the printed product and the closing of the staple the Umbiegereinrichtung remains in its first position until a voluminous printed product is fed and detected again.

According to a development of the invention, in which the printed product is conveyed on a gathering chain of a saddle stitcher to the stapler, it is provided that the Umbiegereinrichtung is moved transversely to the product travel direction so far in its second position, that an upper edge of the Umbiegereinrichtung the collecting chain substantially not surmounted. The vertical distance for the transport of the stitched printed product is then determined only by the distance of the gathering chain to the stapling head. This makes it possible to staple even voluminous printed products without the risk of quality impairments.

Preferably, the stroke of the transversely to the product running direction movement of the Umbiegereinrichtung from the first to the second position at least 5 mm, preferably 5-10 mm and more preferably about 8 mm. Preference is given to stapling printed products having a thickness which is greater than about 10 mm by this process. Of course, also printed products stapled with a smaller thickness according to the inventive method. However, in the case of printed products with a thickness below the specified limit, the movement of the bending device from the first to the second position is eliminated.

Of course, the vertical movement of the Umbiegereinrichtung can be used in its second position for adapting the stapler to a new order with the previous different thickness of the printed products. Such an adjustment of the stapling machine is not performed at each stapling operation, but only once before stapling the first printed product of a series of printed products of the same thickness.

The stitching machine according to the invention is characterized in that in the product running direction in front of the Umbiegereinrichtung an operatively connected to the machine control thickness detection device is arranged, wherein the Umbiegereinrichtung before inserting the printed product between the stapling head and Umbiegereinrichtung by means of the connected drive in a second, transversely to the product running direction further than the the first position removed from the stapling head, predetermined position can be brought when a thickness of a printed product to be stapled exceeds a predetermined limit, and wherein the Umbiegereinrichtung is movable after insertion of the printed product by the drive transversely to the product running direction back to the first position, in which the staple is driven into the printed product.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive is formed by a main drive of the stapler or by a separate drive, in particular a servo drive. The drive is advantageously adjustable to a predetermined pressing force for the Umbiegereinrichtung.

In a further development of the invention it is provided that the Umbiegereinrichtung is arranged on a stitching carriage, which in particular has a Heftschlittenunterteil and a Heftschlittenoberteil. The stitching carriage and thus also the Umbiegereinrichtung are by means of at least one connected to the drive cylinder, a wedge bar or a curved ruler vertically movable. This allows a simple and safe movement of the bending device connected to the stitching carriage and is structurally particularly easy to implement if the drive is designed as a separate drive, arranged on a spindle and connected via spindle nuts movable on the spindle with the vertically displaceable, the stitching carriage bearing wedge bar , Upon a displacement of the wedge bar of the stitching carriage and thus the Umbiegereinrichtung be moved vertically upwards or downwards accordingly.

Further advantageous features emerge from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

Fig. 1

Schematisch eine Ansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Heftmaschine,

Fig. 2

Eine weitere Ansicht der Heftmaschine gemäss Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

Schematisch eine Ansicht einer Heftmaschine gemäss einer Variante,

Fig. 4

Eine weitere Ansicht der Heftmaschine gemäss der Fig. 3,

Fig. 5

Eine Darstellung der Heftmaschine analog der Fig. 2 und 4, in einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 6a

Schematisch einen Schnitt durch die Heftmaschine zur Illustration der Bewegungen des Heftkopfes und der Umbiegereinrichtung,

Fig. 6b

Eine schematische Darstellung der ersten Position der Umbiegereinrichtung beim Einführen eines Druckprodukts,

Fig. 6c

Eine schematische Darstellung der zweiten Position der Umbiegereinrichtung beim Einführen eines Druckprodukts,

Fig. 7

Schematisch das Einfahren eines Druckprodukts in eine Heftmaschine mit zwei Heftköpfen und zwei Umbiegereinrichtungen, und

Fig. 8

Schematisch das Heften des eingefahrenen Druckprodukts in eine Heftmaschine gemäss Fig. 7.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

Schematically a view of a stapling machine according to the invention,

Fig. 2

Another view of the stapler according to Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

Schematically a view of a stapler according to a variant,

Fig. 4

Another view of the stapler according to the Fig. 3 .

Fig. 5

A representation of the stapler analogous to Fig. 2 and 4 in another embodiment,

Fig. 6a

Schematically a section through the stapler for illustrating the movements of the stapling head and the Umbiegereinrichtung,

Fig. 6b

A schematic representation of the first position of the Umbiegereinrichtung during insertion of a printed product,

Fig. 6c

A schematic representation of the second position of the Umbiegereinrichtung during insertion of a printed product,

Fig. 7

Schematically, the retraction of a printed product in a stapler with two stapling heads and two Umbiegereinrichtungen, and

Fig. 8

Schematically stapling the retracted print product in a stapler according to Fig. 7 ,

The Figures 1 and 2 show a stapler 1, which is arranged on a gathering chain 2 of a known saddle stitcher 3. The gathering chain 2 has baffles 4, which are saddle-shaped and on which with drivers 5 (FIG. Fig. 7 and 8th ) Printed products 6 can be transported, each having a fold 6a. The guide plates 4 are formed so that a gap 7 is present between them, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the gathering chain 2. The printing products to be stapled 6 consist of individual sheets not shown here, which were collected in front of the stapler 1 in the course of a collection section of the gathering chain 2, not shown. In the area of the collecting line, the printed product 6 can have a thickness at its fold 6a which, for example, is substantially greater than 10 mm. After stitching, in the course of which the printed product 6 is compressed, in particular in the region of its fold 6a, the thickness of the printed product 6 at its fold 6a is for example only 9.5 mm and the total thickness of the printed product 6 is thus 19 mm.

The stapling machine 1 has a stapling carriage 8 with a stapling carriage upper part 9 and a stapling carriage base 10. Thus, the stapling carriage 8 during stapling runs each with a conveyed on the gathering chain 2 printed product 6, it is slidably mounted on an upper guide 11 and a lower guide 12. The upper guide 11 is formed here for example as a stationary guide rod on which the stitching carriage upper part 9 is mounted. The sliding takes place in a manner known per se with a drive 14. The stapling carriage lower part 10 is mounted on the stapling carriage upper part 9 so that the latter transversely to a product running direction 13 (FIG. Fig. 7 and 8th ), ie can move vertically downwards and upwards. For this purpose, two cylinders 15 operated by the drive 14 of the stitching machine 1, which is designed as the main drive, are provided, which are each fastened with an upper end to the stapling carriage upper part 9 and with a lower end on the stapling carriage lower part 10. The cylinders 15 are formed, for example, as a pneumatic actuating cylinder and controlled by a machine control 16. The vertical movements of the stitching carriage lower part 10 are limited by stops, not shown here. These stops can be adjustable. The corresponding stroke can thus preferably be adjusted. The lower guide 12 is adapted to receive said vertical movements allows. Alternatively, for vertical adjustment of the stitching carriage 8 instead of the main drive 14 designed as a drive with the machine control 16 operatively connected, separate drive 17 (FIG. Fig. 4 ), For example, a servo motor, find use, which is advantageously adjustable to a predetermined pressing force.

At Heftschlittenunterteil 10 at least one connected thereto, designed as a Umbiegerblock Umbiegerseinrichtung 18 is arranged, which is moved together with the Heftschlittenunterteil 10. Above the Umbiegereinrichtung 18 a stapling head 19 is arranged, which is attached to the stitching carriage upper part 9 and moved therewith. In a manner known per se, a staple 20 (shown in FIG. Fig. 8 ), which is driven by the stapling head 19 in the region of the fold 6a from above through the printed product 6 and on the underside thereof by means not shown active or passive Umbiegerelemente the Umbiegerseinrichtung 18 is closed. The Umbiegereinrichtung 18 has an upper end 18a which is preferably arranged slightly below the gap 7 of the baffles 4, but can also extend into the region of the gap 7. As an alternative to the arrangement described above, the stapling head 19 and the bending device 18 can also be arranged offset from each other transversely to the product running direction 13. Thus, the stapling head 19 may be arranged, for example, below the bending device 18.

The FIGS. 3 and 4 show a stapling machine 1 ', which differs from the above stapling machine 1 in that the vertical movements of the stapling carriage base 10 and the connected thereto Umbiegereinrichtung 18 done with a wedge rod 21 on which the stapling carriage base 10 rests with two spaced-apart rollers 22 , The wedge rod 21 is in each case with a curve 23 on a correspondingly shaped wedge surface 24 of one of two spindle nuts 25, which are horizontally displaceable with a spindle 26. The spindle 26 is operated with the example designed as a servomotor, separate drive 17, which is advantageously arranged directly on the spindle 26. If the distance between the two spindle nuts 25 is reduced by turning the spindle 26, the wedge rod 21 moves upwards. Accordingly, the stapling carriage base 10 moved with the Umbiegereinrichtung 18 upwards. If the distance between the spindle nuts 25 is increased, the stapling carriage lower part 10 accordingly moves downwards. During these movements, the stapling carriage base 10 is guided on rods 27 which are fastened to the stapling carriage upper part 9. In the direction of the gathering chain 2, ie in and against the product running direction 13, the stapling carriage 8 is guided by the lower guide 12, which may be formed analogously as in the stapler 1. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that there are also other possibilities for vertically moving the stapling carriage lower part 10 of a stapling machine 1 ", for example by means of one or more curved bars 28 (FIG. Fig. 5 ).

As already mentioned above, the bending device 18 can in principle also be fastened to the stitching carriage upper part 9. In this case, not shown, the stapling head 19 is attached to the stapling carriage base 10 and the cylinder 15, the wedge rod 21 or the cam ruler 28 are arranged on the stapling carriage upper part 9.

The said vertical movements of the stitching carriage lower part 10 are movements which are carried out additionally and synchronously with the respective stapling operation, ie for forming, driving in and closing a staple 20. This will be explained below with reference to Figures 6a - 6c . 7 and 8 explained in more detail.

The FIG. 6a schematically shows the stapling machine 1 with a introduced by means of the gathering chain 2 voluminous printed product 6, on which the stapling head 19 is lowered transversely to the product travel direction 13 in a vertical direction of movement 29 and to which the Umbiegereinrichtung 18, the printed product 6 is moved in a vertical direction of movement 30 compressing from below , Thus, the Umbiegereinrichtung 18 is positioned according to the thickness of the stapled, ie the already compressed printed products 6. In this first position of the Umbiegerseinrichtung 18 whose upper end 18a projects beyond an upper edge 2a of the gathering chain 2. In the first position of the Umbiegereinrichtung 18 and also lowered stapling head 19 also takes place later stapling the printed products 6.

The Fig. 6b shows the introduction of a thick, ie voluminous printed product 6 in the stapling machine 1. Her stapling head 19 is located in an upper position and the Umbiegereinrichtung 18 in its previously preset to the thickness of the stapled printed products 6 first position, with the upper edge 2a of the gathering chain 2 superior upper end 18a. It clearly shows that when feeding a voluminous printed product 6 due to the relatively small distance in this first position of the Umbiegereinrichtung 18 between the printed product 6 and the stapling head 19 there is a risk that individual sheets of this time not stapled and not compressed Print product 6 when inserted into the stapler 1 abut the stapling head 19 and move against each other or even lifted off each other and can be damaged.

In order to eliminate this risk, its thickness is determined before insertion of the printing product 6 to be stapled, the determined value compared with a predetermined limit value and the bending device 18 is brought into a predetermined second position when this limit value is exceeded, which is wider than the first transverse direction to the product running direction 13 Position removed from the stapling head 19 and in Fig. 6c is shown. As can be seen, the upper edge 2a of the gathering chain 2 is not overtopped by the upper end 18a of the bending device 18. As a result, a distance A between the gathering chain 2 and the stapling head 19, which is available for insertion of the printing product 6 to be stapled, is not adversely affected by the bending device 18, ie the distance available for introducing the printing product 6 to be stapled is greater than the known solutions of the prior art the technology trained enlarged. The applicable limit value is specified by the machine operator according to the current further processing order, for example due to the respectively provided safety distance between the printed products and the stapling head and in dependence on the production speed.

In order to determine the thickness of the printed product 6 to be introduced into the stapling machine 1, in the product running direction 13 in front of the stapling head 19 and the strapping device 18 a thickness determining device 31 designed as a sensor aligned with the gathering chain 2 is arranged ( Fig. 7 ). Of course, the thickness of the printed product 6 are determined in other ways, for example, by prior counting of the printed product 6 forming sheet and corresponding multiplying the known thickness of the sheet with their determined number. Also, a thickness determining device 31 can be arranged in the product running direction 13 after the stapling head 19 and the Umbiegereinrichtung 18, wherein the determined thickness can then be used only for setting the Umbiegerseinrichtung 18 for the subsequent printed products 6.

The Fig. 6a shows the first position of the Umbiegereinrichtung 18, in which also the stapling of the printed product 6 takes place. In contrast to the previous setting of the Umbiegereinrichtung 18 already described above, the Umbiegereinrichtung 18 is for stapling the printed product 6 already in its first preset position or is spent in the vertical direction of movement 30 from the second, lowered position in the first position. Only then is the lowering of the stapling head 19 in the vertical direction of movement 29 and thus the fixing and compressing of the printed product 6 in the region of its fold 6a. Subsequently, the stapling head 19 drives the staple 20 into the printed product 6.

In the FIG. 7 the product running direction 13 is shown, in which the printed product 6 is retracted into a stapling machine 1 equipped with two stitching heads 19 and two folding devices 18. The stitching head 19 and the Umbiegereinrichtungen 18 receiving staple carriage 8 is simultaneously moved in a first horizontal direction of movement 32 against the product travel direction 13 to the right. The stitching heads 19 are here as shown in its upper position and the two Umbiegereinrichtungen 18 in its second, lowered position. The available for the introduction of a printed product 6 distance between the gathering chain 2 and the stitching heads 19 is thus greater than in the previous solutions of the prior art. If the machine controller 16 determines that the predetermined limit value is not exceeded due to the thickness of the printed product 6 detected by the thickness determination device 31, the folding devices 18 are not lowered into their second position, ie they remain in their first, raised position.

The FIG. 8 shows a retracted into the stapling machine 1 printed product 6. The two Umbiegereinrichtungen 18 are in their first, raised position in which the printed product 6 is held. The two stapling heads 19, which are in their lowered position, work together with the two folding devices 18. The stitching carriage 8 equipped with the stitching heads 19 and the folding devices 18 is moved in a second horizontal direction of movement 33 corresponding to the product running direction 13 and at the same speed as the printed product 6. The printed product 6 can thus be stapled by the running stitching carriage 8. Since the stapler 1 of this embodiment has two clincher assemblies 18 and two stapling heads 19, stapling can be performed simultaneously with two staples 20. Of course, also staplers 1 with only one Umbiegereinrichtung 18 and a stapling head 19 or with more than two Umbiegereinrichtungen 18 and stapling heads 19th

If the printed product 6 is stapled, then the Umbiegereinrichtungen 18 remain at least initially in their first position and the stitching heads 19 are up in the in Fig. 7 shown position, whereby the stapled printed product 6 is released again and is transported away from the gathering chain 2. The stapling carriage 8 moves substantially simultaneously in its first horizontal direction of movement 32 Fig. 7 to the right to receive a subsequent printed product 6 from the gathering chain 2. This can start a new stapling process. The stroke that the Umbiegereinrichtungen 18 perform in the said movements, depending on the printed product 6 may be different. This stroke is for example about 8 mm. Preferably, this stroke is in the range of about 5 - 10 mm. In addition to the aforesaid vertical movements of the clincher 18, the cylinders 15, wedge bar 21 or cam bar 28 may be used to adjust the clincher 18 to accommodate different thicknesses of the printed product 6. The cyclic vertical movements of the Umbiegereinrichtung 18 before and after stapling are then correspondingly smaller or larger.

Claims (15)

1. A method of stitching printed products (6) using a stitching machine (1), which has at least one stitching head (19) travelling along with a printed product (6) conveyed in a product feed direction (13) and at least one travelling bending device (18), said method comprising the following steps:

   • positioning the bending device (18) in a first position corresponding to the thickness of the printed products (6) to be stitched, said first position being at a distance from the stitching head (19) in a direction perpendicular to the product feed direction (13) and,

   • inserting a printed product (6) in product feed direction (13) between the stitching head (19) and the bending device (18),

   • securing the inserted printed product (6) by moving the stitching head (19) perpendicular to the product feed direction (13) so that it draws close to the bending device (18),

   • driving a wire stitch (20) into the secured printed product (6) by means of the stitching head (19),

   • closing the driven-in wire stitch (20) by a closing movement of the bending device (18),

   • releasing the stitched printed product (6) after closing of the wire stitch (20),

   characterized in that

   • before inserting the printed product (6) to be stitched, its thickness is determined, the determined value is compared with a given threshold value and, if this threshold value is exceeded, the bending device (18) is brought into a predetermined second position which is further away than the first position from the stitching head (19) in the direction perpendicular to the product feed direction (13),

   • after insertion of the printed product (6), the bending device (18) is moved perpendicular to the product feed direction (13) back into the first position,

   • and in that the bending device (18) remains in the first position if the predetermined threshold value is not exceeded.
2. A method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the movement of the bending device (18) towards the stitching head (19) and away from the stitching head (19) in each case takes place vertically.
3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stitching head (19) is disposed above the bending device (18), and, prior to insertion of the printed product (6) between the stitching head (19) and the bending device (18), the bending device (18) is moved downwards from the first position into the second position and after insertion of the printed product (6) is moved back up into its first position.
4. A method according to Claim 3, characterized in that the printed product (6) is conveyed on a gathering chain (2) of a gatherer-stitcher (3) to the stitching machine (1), and the bending device (18) is moved perpendicular to the product feed direction (13) into the second position to the extent that an upper edge (18a) of the bending device (18) does not project substantially above the gathering chain (2).
5. A method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the travel of the bending device (18) when it moves perpendicular to the product feed direction (13) from the first into the second position is at least 5 mm, in particular 5 to 10 mm and preferably about 8 mm.
6. A method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that printed products (6) having a thickness of more than 10 mm are stitched.
7. A stitching machine for stitching printed products (6), comprising a machine control unit (16), a thickness determining device (31), at least one stitching head (19) travelling along with a printed product (6) conveyed in a product feed direction (13) and at least one travelling bending device (18) which can be brought by means of a drive unit (14, 17) connected thereto into a first position which is at a distance from the stitching head (19), in the direction perpendicular to the product feed direction (13), that corresponds to the thickness of the printed products (6) to be stitched, characterized in that the thickness determining device (31) is operatively connected to the machine control unit (16), in which case, before the printed product (6) is inserted between stitching head (19) and bending device (18), the bending device (18) can brought by means of the drive unit (14, 17) into a second predetermined position, which, in the direction perpendicular to the product feed direction (13), is further away from the stitching head (19) than the first position, if a thickness of a printed product (6) to be stitched, as determined by the thickness determining device (31), exceeds a given threshold value, and in which case, after the printed product (6) has been inserted, the bending device (18) can be moved by means of the drive unit (14, 17) in the direction perpendicular to the product feed direction (13) back into the first position, whereupon, during operation, the stitching machine carries out the method steps of the characterizing section of Claim 1.
8. A stitching machine according to Claim 7, characterized in that the drive unit (14, 17) takes the form of a main drive of the stitching machine (1) or a separate drive, in particular a servo drive.
9. A stitching machine according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the drive unit (14, 17) can be adjusted for a given pressing force.
10. A stitching machine according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the bending device (18) is mounted on a stitcher carriage (8) and can be moved in vertical direction by means of at least one cylinder (15) connected to the drive unit (14, 17), at least one wedge bar (21) or at least one curve template (28).
11. A stitching machine according to Claim 10, characterized in that the stitcher carriage (8) comprises a base portion (10) and an upper portion (9).
12. A stitching machine according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the drive unit (17) takes the form of a separate drive mounted on a spindle (26) and connected to the vertically movable wedge bar (21) bearing the stitcher carriage (8) via spindle nuts (25) which are movable on the spindle (26).
13. A stitching machine according to one of Claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the thickness determining device (31) is located upstream of the bending device (18) when viewed in product feed direction (13).
14. A stitching machine according to one of Claims 7 to 13, characterized in that it has two bending devices (18) and two stitching heads (19), the two bending devices (18) being mounted on a stitcher carriage (8) so that they can together be moved perpendicular to the product feed direction (13) from the first into the second position.
15. A stitching machine according to one of Claims 7 to 14, characterized in that the bending device (18) can be adjusted to suit different thicknesses of the printed products (6) to be stitched.

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