Device and method for processing streams of sheets

Abstract

The invention relates to a sheet processing arrangement with a sheet processing device, at least two parallel running streams of sheets (D 1 , D 2 , E 1 , E 2 ) being produced. The arrangement also has a merging device ( 11 ) for making the streams of sheets (D 1 , D 2 , E 1 , E 2 ) merge into a single stream of sheets (F 1 , F 2 ), the stream of sheets (F 1 , F 2 ) being fed by a chain table ( 13 ) to a further processing machine arranged downstream of the merging device ( 11).

1 . A sheet processing arrangement for processing a number of parallel running streams of sheets (D 1 , D 2 , E 1 , E 2 ), the arrangement having 
 a sheet processing device ( 3 ),    a merging device ( 11 ), arranged downstream of the sheet processing device ( 3 ), for making the streams of sheets (D 1 , D 2 , E 1 , E 2 ) merge together into a single stream of sheets (F 1 , F 2 ) and    a further processing machine, arranged downstream of the merging device ( 11 ).    
     
     
         2 . The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the merging device ( 11 ) is preceded by a separating device, which divides a primary stream of sheets (B) into at least two streams of sheets (D 1 , D 2 ).  
     
     
         3 . The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the further processing machine has a chain table ( 13 ) for taking over the single stream of sheets (F 1 , F 2 ).  
     
     
         4 . The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the merging device ( 11 ) is formed by at least two conveyor lines ( 11   a ,  11   b ) arranged at least partially one over the other.  
     
     
         5 . The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the running speed of the conveyor lines ( 11   a ,  11   b ) of the merging device ( 11 ) can be set with respect to the running speed of the chain table ( 13 ) in such a way that the sheets (F 1 , F 2 ) in the single stream of sheets on the chain table ( 13 ) are at a predetermined distance from one another.  
     
     
         6 . The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the sheet processing device is a sheet-fed printing machine, a web-fed printing machine with cross-cutter or an unwinding device with cross-cutter.  
     
     
         7 . The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the sheet processing device is a folding machine ( 3 ).  
     
     
         8 . The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the further processing machine is a thread sealing machine, a thread stitching machine or an envelope-filling machine.  
     
     
         9 . A method for processing a number of parallel running streams of sheets (D 1 , D 2 , E 1 , E 2 ) in a sheet processing arrangement with a sheet processing device ( 3 ), a merging device ( 11 ), arranged downstream of the sheet processing device ( 3 ), and a further processing machine, arranged downstream of the merging device ( 11 ), in which method 
 all the streams of sheets (D 1 , D 2 , E 1 , E 2 ) are made to merge together into a single stream of sheets (F 1 , F 2 ) in the merging device ( 11 ),    the single stream of sheets (F 1 , F 2 ) being fed to the further processing machine.    
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , in which a primary stream of sheets (B) is divided into at least two streams of sheets (D 1 , D 2 ) by means of a separating device arranged upstream of the merging device ( 11 ).  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the single stream of sheets (F 1 , F 2 ) is fed to the further processing machine by means of a chain table ( 13 ).  
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the number of streams of sheets (D 1 , D 2 , E 1 , E 2 ) are fed to the chain table ( 13 ) by means of at least two conveyor lines ( 11   a ,  11   b ) arranged at least partially one over the other and forming the merging device ( 11 ).  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , in which the running speed of the conveyor lines ( 11   a ,  11   b ) is set with respect to the running speed of the chain table ( 13 ) in such a way that the sheets (F 1 , F 2 ) in the single stream of sheets on the chain table ( 13 ) are arranged at a predetermined distance from one another.