Method and device for continuously joining at least two imbricated flows of flat printed products

Abstract

A method for continuously joining at least two imbricated flows of flat printed products which are conveyed at equal speeds and spaced from one another, the method includes initially offsetting a first imbricated flow of flat printed products relative to a second imbricated flow of flat printed products so as to form a first lateral overlapping area of both imbricated flows, continuously lifting the printed products of both imbricated flows in the first lateral overlapping area until the lateral overlapping is eliminated, and lowering or dropping the printed products of both imbricated flows in the raised lateral overlapping area, so that partially a printed product of the first imbricated or the second imbricated flow comes to rest above the first or second imbricated flows above a printed product of the respectively other imbricated flow, whereby a single imbricated flow with a second overlapping area of the printed products is formed.

1 . A method for continuously joining at least two imbricated flows of flat printed products which are conveyed at equal speeds and spaced from one another, comprising
 initially offsetting a first imbricated flow of flat printed products relative to a second imbricated flow of flat printed products so as to form a first lateral overlapping area of both imbricated flows,   continuously lifting the printed products of both imbricated flows in the first lateral overlapping area until the lateral overlapping is eliminated, and   lowering or dropping the printed products of both imbricated flows in the raised lateral overlapping area, so that partially a printed product of the first imbricated flow or the second imbricated flow comes to rest above the first or second imbricated flows above a printed product of the respectively other imbricated flow, wherein a single imbricated flow with a second overlapping area of the printed products is formed.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising initially placing on the second imbricated flow a second imbricated flow so as to form a double imbricated flow with the first lateral overlapping flow,
 subsequently lifting at least in the first lateral overlapping area continuously the printed products until they are separated from each other in the first lateral overlapping area, and   lowering the printed products of both imbricated flows at least in their lifted lateral overlapping area successively and lowering the printed products of both imbricated flows at least in the lateral overlapping area thereof, and   finally successively lowering or dropping the printed products of both imbricated flows successively, so that alternatingly a printed product of the first or of the second imbricated flows come to rest on a printed product of the respectively other imbricated flow, and thereby a single imbricated flow is formed with the second lateral overlapping area of the printed products.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising lifting the printed products essentially in a middle of the first lateral overlapping area. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising shifting the two imbricated flows prior to forming the first lateral overlapping area by a predetermined offset in a transport direction relative to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the offset of the two imbricated flows is adjustable and corresponds to half of a spacing of two successive printed products in the transport direction within one of the two imbricated flows. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , comprising adjusting the offset in dependence on an intended first lateral overlapping area of the two imbricated flows. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising lifting the printed products of both imbricated flows by means of a spreading device, and lowering or dropping the flows downstream of the spreading device onto a principal conveyor, wherein the printed products are printed prior to lowering or dropping onto the principal conveyor are pressed laterally against the spreading device by the first pressure elements. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising pressing against the principal conveyor the printed products during lifting by means of at least two guide elements, during lowering or dropping, by at least two second guide elements, and during the transport thereof on the principal conveyor by means of two pressure elements arranged laterally of the spreading device and above the principal conveyor. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising reducing continuously the width of the imbricated flow until the second lateral overlapping area and an imbricated flow of uniform width is created. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , comprising subjecting the imbricated flow to a quality test and eliminating printed products with insufficient quality out of the imbricated flow. 
     
     
         11 . A device for carrying out a method according to  claim 1 , comprising two input conveyors arranged at a distance from each other for transporting an imbricated flow of printed products to a principal conveyor and a spreading device arranged in the area of the principal conveyor for spreading the printed products of one of the imbricated flows into the printed products of the other imbricated flow. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , comprising end portions of the input conveyors having a configuration such that they essentially arrive offset relative to each other in a plane of the principal conveyor, and wherein one of the input conveyors operates at a predetermined distance in front of the joining of the other input conveyor. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the input conveyors has a part for producing an offset of the imbricated flows in the transport direction. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein one of the input conveyors has a pivotable part by means of a joint transversely of the transport direction, so that the desired width of the first lateral overlapping area of the imbricated flows results. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the spreading device has a spreading plow or is constructed as a spreading plow, which has the shape of two pyramids with at least three side surfaces and a base surface, wherein pyramids are arranged with a first side surface in the plane of the principal conveyor, and a respective edge which extends between a first and a second side surface of each pyramid in an adjustable angle relative to the transport direction, wherein the respective base surface is arranged transversely of the transport direction, and wherein the edges of the pyramids come together in a common peak against the transport direction. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the pyramids are constructed in such away that the edges have an adjustable inclination. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein on both sides of the spreading device is arranged a first pressure element and constructed as pressure rollers, wherein the pressure rollers press the printed products when dropping onto the principal conveyor transversely of the transport direction against side surfaces of the spreading device or against the second side surfaces of the pyramids. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein always at least two first and/or at least two second guide elements are arranged upstream and/or downstream and laterally of the spreading device. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the first and second guide elements are adjustable transversely of the transport direction and/or at a distance form each other in the transport direction. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein two second pressure elements are arranged in the transport direction laterally of the spreading device and above the principal conveyor, wherein the pressure elements are constructed such that they press the printed products against the principal conveyor. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 11 , comprising a pushing together device arranged downstream of the spreading device, wherein the pushing together device comprises for producing a single imbricated flow on each side of the principal conveyor at least one guide element for effecting a shifting of the printed products in the direction of the center of the imbricated flow, so that the second lateral overlapping area after the displacement of the printed products corresponds to the width of the printed products. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein downstream of the pushing together device is arranged a centering device. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 21 , comprising a testing device with a discharge device, particularly a discharge switch, arranged downstream of the pushing together device or the centering device.