Device for collecting folded printed sheets

p0001The present invention relates to a device for collecting folded printed sheets according to the preamble of claim 1.

p0002Such a device is for example known from DE-OS 36 16 566th This has three spaced parallel to a common axis of rotation to this rotationally driven saddle-like rests on. In the direction of the axis of rotation two investors are provided on the pads and a stitcher for stitching the superimposed for depositing printed sheets printed sheets one by one. The so collated and stapled printed sheets slide for transporting away on a conveyor belt. For each support an endless, continuously circulating driven chain provided with carriers, which act on the printed sheets deposited on the pads and transport them in the course of one rotation of the pads around the common axis of rotation by an investor to the other or to the stapler. On both sides of each support guide plates are provided that prevent the print sheet on spreading. Thus, the printed sheets while they are moved under the axis of rotation does not fall down, from the supports, a cylindrical shell half is provided, on which the printed sheets to slide with their fold while the lower half of the rotation. Thereby, the printed sheets, especially in the area of ​​their fold, are damaged. Since between the shell half and the carriers, a gap must be present, it is also possible, that the printed sheets can pass out of the effective range of the driver, and thus no longer transported and be damaged. Furthermore, the laying of the printed sheets is connected to the pads with difficulties, since continuously circulating conditions the printed sheets must be inserted into the gaps between the pads and the guide plates.

p0003From EP-OS 00 95 603 and the corresponding US Patent No. 4,489,930, a further means for collecting folded printed sheets is known. This includes two, mutually parallel revolving conveyor chains on ladder rungs arranged like conditions. At the beginning and at the end of the effective conveying the conveyor chains are guided around deflection rollers; Printed sheets are on the pads of the upper run by feeders astride launched, and so gathered signatures be lifted and carried away at the end of the effective conveying of the pads.

p0004Next 237 701 a device for introducing at least one insert into folded printed products is known from EP-AO, a processing drum with approximately radially extending, on the drum periphery having open compartments. In each compartment of the compartments herverschiebbare back and clamping assemblies for advancing the up located in the compartments printed products are arranged in the longitudinal direction. The drive for the reciprocating movement of the clamp assemblies and controlling the clamps of the clamp assemblies is carried out as described in DE-A-26 04 101 described. Each compartment is divided by means of a removable, at a distance ending of the clamping assemblies partition into two feed channels. The printed products are in pairs supplied by a feed conveyor to the processing drum, each of each fed printing products is introduced into a feed channel with the fold ahead. The printed products in the feed channels of each compartment are recognized by closing the brackets and advanced, open and provided with a side dish during the subsequent stroke together. At the end of the working stroke, the clamps are opened and the printed products is prevented by stops on the driving during the return stroke of the clamp assemblies. Object of verliegenden invention is to provide a device for collecting folded printed sheets according to the preamble of claim 1 which is of simple construction allows a reliable hold of the printed sheets to the pads, while avoiding damage to the sheet.

p0005This object is solved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

p0006The printed sheets are held by clamp assemblies which rotate with the supports, so that damage to the printing sheet, as a result of relative movements between the printing sheet and the means for holding the same is avoided. The clamp assemblies guarantee a defined position of the sheet so that it always be present on the supports.

p0007The clamp assemblies are displaced in the longitudinal direction of the pads. Held by the clamp assemblies printed sheets with these moves and can not stand out from these thus also during transport along the supports. The clamp assemblies thus serve as a feeding means for the printed sheets, each clip acts on two printed sheets and each sheet is fetched by two brackets.

p0008In one form according to claim 4, wherein the clamps of the clamp assemblies are independent of the position and movement of the clamp assemblies controllable, the device can be easily adapted to the most varied needs.

p0009An embodiment of according to claim 6 permits a high processing speed because the car only need to perform a limited stroke.

p0010In a particularly simple embodiment, the both sides of each second support arranged cars are coupled together to execute the conveying and return stroke jointly and synchronously.

p0011A particularly simple control device for the opening and closing of the clamps is disclosed in claim 10th

p0012Further preferred embodiments are defined in the further dependent claims.

p0013The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Shown here purely schematically:<ul><li>FIG. 1 in a perspective view an embodiment of a collecting drum,</li><li>Fig. 2 in an enlarged scale a vertical section along the line II of Fig. 1,</li><li>Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section along the line III-III of Fig. 2,</li><li>Fig. 4 in perspective and simplified form a portion of Fig. 3,</li><li>Fig. 5 and 6 in an enlarged scale a section along the line VV of Fig. 3 in the area designated on FIG. 2 B and D sites, with one or two deposited on the pads printed sheets,</li><li>Fig. 7 is a development of part of the conveying path of the printed sheets, and </li><li>Fig. 8 in perspective from the side part of the according to the collection drum Fig. 1 arranged printed sheet.</li></ul>

p0014FIG. 1 shows a on a frame 10 rotatably mounted peripherally driven collection drum 12 with a plurality of longitudinally the collection drum 12 extending supports 14 which rotate together about the axis of rotation 16 in the direction of arrow U. Above the collection drum 12 are ten, spaced 16 apart in the direction of the axis of rotation, shown schematically feed conveyor 18 is provided, which are driven synchronously by a common drive shaft 20th In an end region of the collection drum 12 (at the end in the direction of arrow F), a removal conveyor 22 is arranged, which is also shown only schematically. The structure and operation of such feed or removal conveyors 18, 22 are generally known and described for example in DE-OS 36 20 945 or the corresponding US Patent No. 4,684,116. The feed conveyor 18 transporting folded printed sheet 24 to the collection drum 12, where these means of, also only schematically indicated, an opening device 26 is opened and will be placed on this location is printed sheets 24 of the feeders 18 to the pads 14 of the collection drum 12 or on. The seen in the direction of the arrow F first feed conveyor 18 sets during the revolutions of the collection drum 12 in the circumferential direction U on each below this moving past support 14 a sheet 24 astride from. In the course of one revolution of the collection drum 12, this sheet 24 can be guided in the direction of arrow F along a helical path to the next feed conveyor 18, which another hangs up on each printed sheet 24, which are then 12 conducted in the course of the next revolution of the collecting drum in common to the next feeder 18 , This is repeated until, as shown in FIG. 1, are superimposed ten folded printed sheet 24. In the course of two further revolutions the so gathered signatures 24 are transported to the removal conveyor 22 where they are collected and transported away. In the area between the feeders 18 and the discharge conveyor 22 the superposed can be stapled printed sheets 24 or further processing are subjected.

p0015In FIG. 2, the collection drum 12 is shown in a vertical section. The collection drum 12 has wheels 28, of which is indicated only a phantom in this Figure. These wheels 28 are rotatably mounted on a hollow shaft 30 which is held by the frame 10 and whose longitudinal axis coincides with the axis of rotation 16 (Fig. 1) coincides. At the collars 32 of wheels 28 are axially extending, seen in circumferentially spaced apart, arranged C-shaped rails 34th seen in the radial direction, is on the outside of each rail 34, a saddle-shaped in cross-section support 14 is fixed. In each rail car 34 are guided 36, wherein in FIG. 2, only some of these cars are depicted 36. This carriage 36 are described in more detail below. For the moment it is sufficient to know that each of the carriage has clamping tongues 38, which are by means of a control device 40 from an open position into a closed position and vice versa can be transferred.

p0016Two ongoing in adjacent rails 34 carriages 36 are coupled in pairs with each other by means of a strap 42nd On each bar 42 is a, viewed in the radial direction, disposed opposite inwardly projecting cam 44, which is guided in a control link 46, which is on the surface of a, seen in the radial direction is provided from the rails 34 against spaced inwardly control cylinder 48th The control cylinder 48 is arranged rotatably on the normally stationary hollow axle 30th

p0017On the opposite direction of arrow F (s. FIG. 1) outermost provided spoked 28 is a sprocket attached 49, which is operatively connected by means of a dash-dot indicated the chain drive 52 with a fixed to the frame 10 transmission 50. The gear 50 is driven by a likewise fixed to the frame 10 drive motor 54 by means of another, also indicated in chained lines chain drive 56th

p0018The feed conveyor 18 has a run in guides 58, endless chain-dotted lines shown pulling element 60, which are provided at fixed intervals in succession single controllable grippers 62nd The tension member 60 is guided around a fastened to the drive shaft 20 driving pulley 64 by means of which the pulling member 60 is driven in the direction of arrow Z. Each guided the collection drum 12 gripper 62 holds a sheet 24 at the seam 66 firmly. The rebate the 66 opposite, down freely protruding ends 68 of the sheet 24 running on a guide plate 70 of the opening device 26, so that the ends 68 prerun the fold 66th In the feed direction Z seen a rotatable, driven opening roller 72 is provided with controllable clips 74 at the end of the baffle 70th The end 68 of those signatures half 76, which slides on the guide plate 70 is detected by a clamp 74 and 72 adjacent bent on the lateral surface of the opening roller, so that the two sheet halves 76 separate at least in the region of the ends 68 of each other and so the sheet 24 opens. Once in the course of rotation of the collection drum 12 in the direction of circulation U, a support 14 is retracted into an opened printed sheets 24, are the respective bracket 74, the end 68 of the detained by their signatures half 76 free, so that each printed sheet half 76 on a respective side of the support 14 comes to rest. As each gripper 62 is about arriving vertically above the axis of rotation 16 of the collection drum 12, this is opened and the released sheet 24 falls on the pad 14 and comes to rest this. Similar Oeffnungsvorrichtungen 26 are 0,095,603 and 0,208,081 or the corresponding US Patents 4,489,930 and 4,684,117 described in the EP Offenlegungsschriften.

p0019Complement the surroundings of each at the top of the collection drum 12 clamping tongues 38 are in the open position, as indicated in the designated A portion. In the region denoted by B, the clamping tongues 38 are transferred by means of the control means 40 in their clamping position, which is maintained when passing through the lower half of the orbit C. In the area D then the clamping tongues 38 are again converted into their open position.

p0020In FIG. 3, a part of the collection drum 12 is shown in a section along the line III-III of FIG. 2. The one in Fig. 3 visible spoked 28 is rotatably mounted on the hollow shaft 30, and at its hub 78 is fixedly, the sprocket 49 of the chain drive 52 (s. Fig. 2). On the rim 32, the cross-sectionally C-shaped rail 34 is fixed, on which the bearing is seated 14th In the rail 34 three in this figure visible, connected to each other by coupling members 82 carriages 36 are guided. Each carriage 36 has three or two rotatably supported him guide roller pairs 84 that run in the rail 34th On each carriage 36 two clamping tongues 38 are pivotally mounted, by means which are coupled to each other rail sections 86 of the control device 40 (see FIG. 2) from their open position into the closed position and back can be moved.

p0021Each rail section 86 is, similar to a parallel crank drive, supported at two pivot levers 88 which are in turn pivotally mounted on the rail 34 and oriented parallel to one another. The pivot lever. 3 at the left end of the collection drum 12 illustrated in Figure and 88 'described is formed as an angle lever and is connected via a connecting rod 90 with the one arm of the gear 32 pivotally mounted two-armed control lever 92 operatively connected, at its other arm a follower roller 94 is mounted for rotation, which in turn rolls on a guide surface of a stationary backdrop 96th A one end attached to the rail 34 and at the other on the pivot lever 88 'acting pressure spring 98 presses the following roller 94 against the guide face of the link 96 and biases the same time the clamping tongues 38 towards the open position before.

p0022Of all, in a rail 34 guided carriage 36 only that, in the area of ​​the control cylinder 48 a bracket 42, to which it is connected to one of the adjacent in the circumferential direction U carriage 36 (see. FIG. 2). The arranged on the bracket 42 driver 44 runs in the closed, arranged on the lateral surface of the control cylinder 48 control link 46, which, seen in the direction of the axis of rotation 16, in the end portions each have a strong curvature and between these end regions a region with respect to the direction of circulation U having constant pitch (in Fig. 3 is only a part of the control link 46 shown).

p0023On the pad 14 supplied and firmly held by the clamping tongues 38 printed sheets 24 are folded, of the feeders 18 (1 s. Fig.) Indicated dash-dotted lines, as viewed in the direction of conveyance F, starting from the left, in the first clamping tongue 38, a single sheet 24 the bearing 14 rests, 38 lie in the second clamping tongue two congruently superimposed printed sheets 24, 38 of which three, etc. in Fig. 3 respectively offset to the left indicated printed sheet 24 lying on the, seen in the third clamping tongue in the direction of circulation U, trailing pad 14 (see FIG. for this purpose, Fig. 2).

p0024In FIG. 4 is a part of the left half of FIG. 3 shown in perspective and enlarged, the carriage 36 is indicated cut partially. The same parts are indicated with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3. It is only applicable to this received than is necessary for the understanding of Fig. 4. The oppositely directed ends of the C-shaped rail 34 each carry a guide profile 100, for example, plastic. The rollers rotatably mounted on the carriage 36 of the pairs of guide rollers 84 are concave, so that they reach around 100, the guide profile part and enter the carriage 36 in a direction perpendicular to the rail 34 a safe stop. On the rail 34 the pivotal levers 88, 88 'pivoted, whose free ends are pivotally connected to the rail piece 86th The rail element 86 is also formed in the cross-section C-shaped, with the upper edge 86 'is in each case except in the region of the pivot lever 88th 102 with a connecting piece is designated, which seen in the direction F with the next rail section 86 connects the rail section 86 (see. Fig. 3). Upon pivoting of the pivoting levers 88, 88 'from the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 in the clockwise direction makes the rail piece 86 a movement such as the coupler of a parallel crank mechanism, and thus also a reciprocating movement in the direction of arrow H (in the radial direction towards the outside). This movement of the rail section 86 is controlled by the sliding gate 96 on the follower roller 94, whose movement is transmitted by means of the control lever 92 and the connecting rod 90 to the angle lever constructed as a pivot lever 88 '.

p0025The carriage 36 has a flat wall member 104, on which the guide roller pairs are mounted 84th The wall member 104 is on the side facing away from the rail 34 a bent upward, a bag having a bottom-forming guide member 106 is provided, which is cut out in the region of the clamping tongues 38th The clamping tongues 38, which are preferably made of spring steel, are attached to a 34 extending in the longitudinal direction of the rail, the wall member 104 pivotally mounted by means of support members 108 shaft 110, which extends below the bottom of the guide element 106th The opposite upstanding free ends of the clamping tongues 38 can clamp conditions, for example, rubber, wear. Approximately centrally between the two clamping tongues 38 on the shaft 110 a protruding from the rail section 86 lever arm 112 fixed at whose free end a run in the C-shaped rail section 86 roller is mounted rotatable 114. When moving the carriage 36 in or against the direction of the arrow F, the roller 114 slides in the rail piece 86 and raising or lowering of the rail section 86 or in opposite direction of the arrow H, the two clamping tongues 38 are pivoted in the open or in closed position.

p0026During circulation of the rail 34 and support 14 in the direction of arrow U makes the carriage 36 in the direction of arrow F a conveyor and a return stroke in the opposite direction in accordance with the control gate 46, in which the catch slides 44th are also in this figure 4, indicated by dash-dotted lines in Fig. 3, individually or superimposed deposited on the support 14 print sheets 24. It should be noted that each clamping tongue 38 trailing sheet halves 76 of the sheet 24, which are deposited on the support 14 and leading printed sheet halves 76 'of the sheet 24, as seen in the in the direction of circulation U, this support 14 subsequent support 14 (not shown) are placed, clamps, which printed sheets are arranged offset from one another seen 24 respectively in the direction of arrow F. This also applies to those in the FIG. 4 shown on the right printed sheets 24 which are shown but cut on her right side. For completeness, it should be noted that each support 14 of the collection drum 12 together with its associated rail 34, carriage 36 and controller 40, the same structure as that illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 edition 14th

p0027Fig. 5 shows a section along the line VV of Fig. 3 by a plurality of supports 14 of the collection drum 12, whereby the pads 14 in the area B of FIG. 2 are. The rails 34 are on the rim 32 of the spoke wheel 28 (s. Fig. 2 and 3) fixed, and sit on them in the radial direction towards the outside, the saddle-shaped supports 14. At the oppositely directed ends of the rails 34, the guide sections 100 are arranged, are guided on which the pairs of guide rollers 84 of the carriage 36th The pairs of guide rollers 84 are rotatably mounted on the wall member 104 and on this, the guide member 106 and the support members 108, of which only one of each carriage 36 is visible in FIG. 5, attached. It should be noted that the upper end as seen in the direction of rotation U of the guide element 106 extends behind the leading edge 109 of the trailing pad 14th Likewise, the upper end of the wall member 104 from the trailing edge 109 'of the corresponding support 14 is covered so that the ends 68 of the sheet 24 easily can reach 38 when placed on the supports 14 in the region of the clamping tongues. The clamping tongues 38 are fastened to the, stored on the storage elements 108 shaft 110, of which the lever arm 112 against the rail section 86 protrudes. At the free end of the lever arm 112, the roller 114 is mounted rotatably, which in the slide is guided nenstück 86 and having a convex running surface. In this figure 5, the suspension and actuator is not shown for the rail section 86th The rail section to the left as shown in Fig. 5 86 located in the direction of arrow H in the upper, outer in the radial direction of the end, so that the clamping tongues in question 38 are in their open position, in which, seen the free ends of the clamping tongues 38 in the circumferential direction U , come to rest behind the guide element 106 and the clamping tongues 38 are covered by the guide member 106th The rail section 86 shown in this figure right is contrary to the direction of the arrow H in the lower, radially inner end position, whereby the respective clamping tongues 38 are transferred into the closed position in which they print sheet halves 76, 76 'between itself and the the wall element 104 formed counter-stop clamp. It should be noted that on each pad 14, a single sheet 24 astride rests and each clamping tongue 38, the printed sheet halves 76, 76 'of two different printed sheets 24 clamps, namely the trailing sheet half 76 of each leading printing sheet 24 and the leading printed sheet half 76' of respectively this trailing print sheet 24th

p0028Since the pads 14 shown in FIG. 5 are located in the area B of FIG. 2, are the leading printed sheet halves 76 'due to its own weight already on the trailing sheet half 76 of each Weil's leading print sheet 24, so that when closing the clamping tongues 38 on the printing sheet 24 no train is applied.

p0029It should be noted that the two carriages shown in this FIG. 5, 36 are operatively connected to each other by means of the bracket 42, 86 but leave the rail sections to be controlled independently. In this figure is seen particularly well in that the driver 44 comprises a roller, which are arranged parallel to each other at two, to the master cylinder 48 has a circular cross section having round profiles is performed, forming the oppositely directed surfaces, control setting 46th 82 with the coupling members are denoted by means of which the rail 34 is guided in a carriage 36 are coupled together.

p0030Fig. 6 shows the same section as FIG. 5, but on each pad 14 two astride superimposed printed sheets 24, 24 'are stored and the pads 14 are in the section D of FIG. 2. For the detailed description of this figure 6, reference is made to FIG. 5, since the structure of the device in these two figures corresponds to today. The seen in circulating direction U leading clamping tongues 38 are in their open position, since the related rail section 86, seen in the direction of arrow H, is in its upper, outer end position in the radial direction. As a result of the dead weight of the printed sheet halves 76, 76 'are now available on this on the guide element 106th The seen in circulating direction U rear clamping tongues 38 are still in their closed position and clamp between them and the wall element 104, the trailing and leading sheet halves 76, 76 'of two superimposed printed sheets 24, 24' fixed.

p0031In FIG. 7, the collection procedure is shown schematically, simplified, illustrated with the aid of a clearance, wherein only the area of ​​the first two feed conveyor 18 (FIG. 1) is shown. The settlement of the control link 46 is indicated by a chain with 46 designated line. The products listed in the control link 46 drivers 44 are indicated by points, each driver 44 the carriages 36 of two successive runs 14 shifts (s. Also Fig. 5 and 6). The lines designated 36 symbolize the car every second edition 14. There is only one car per pad 14 with two clamping tongues represented 38th The direction of rotation is indicated by U and the direction of the delivery with F. The arrows labeled A to D refer to the in the Fig. 2 by same letter indicated ranges.

p0032. The device according to Figures 1 to 7 is as follows:. As can be seen particularly from Figure 2 that the collection drum 12 is driven by the drive motor 54 in the direction of circulation U. The driver 44 running in the control gate 46 of the master cylinder 48. Since this control cylinder resting 48, now make the carriage 36 in the course of one revolution a conveyor and a return stroke in or against the direction of arrow F (see. Fig. 7). The path, which is in this case covered in one direction is slightly greater than the distance between two feed conveyors 18. The control cylinder 48 is positioned such that the carriage 36 in the course of a revolution essentially the Druchlaufen the upper half (between D and B) of the circulating path of the return stroke opposite direction of the arrow F and the lower half (running between B and D) the delivery stroke in the direction of arrow F, it being understood that the clamping tongues 38 are located throughout the return stroke in the open position.

p0033In area A (s. Fig. 2 and 7) is seen from the direction of the arrow F, the first feed conveyor 18 on each pad 14, an open sheet 24 astride stored, while the corresponding carriage 36 with opened clamping tongues 38 under the sheet 24 through its return stroke . are The printed sheets 24 are not affected by the carriage 36 at the return stroke, because all parts of the carriage 36 relative to the saddle-shaped supports 14 are recessed or disposed in the radial direction towards the inside. In the course of further rotation in the circumferential direction U against the portion B lie down due to its own weight, the trailing sheet halves 76 and the leading printed sheet halves 76 'as seen in the direction of the arrow U respectively rear sheet 24 to the wall elements 104 of the carriage 36 (s. Also FIG . 5). In the area B, the clamping tongues are now 38 all, a support 14 associated carriage 36 transferred together from their open position into the closed position. Here that the clamping tongues may be 38 in each case transferred only in the closed position when viewed in the direction of the arrow F have the same speed as the one already held by the leading clamping tongues 38 printed sheets 24. Note Because there seen in time by the respective leading sheet 24 sooner taken in the direction of arrow F, as the trailing sheet 24, this sheet are 24 offset from one another, as shown particularly in FIG. 4 and 7. a zigzag-shaped line is formed from the sheet 24 thus, are offset in the two adjacent sheet 24 in the direction of arrow F to today. In the course of further rotation between the regions B and D, the car run 36 the discharge stroke of what causes the zigzag-shaped line is managed jointly in the direction of arrow F in the area of ​​the next feed conveyor 18th In the area D, all clamping tongues 38 are now of the carriage 36, which are associated with a support 14, open to one another. This needs to happen before the two clamping tongues 38, the 'hold a printing sheet 24 one on each printed sheet half 76, 76, are subjected to a relative speed. This means that the clamping tongues 38 are opened before the cars concerned are 36 braked to compete its return stroke; the clamping tongues 38 of the respective carriage 36 thus may only be in the closed position as long as the driver 44 of carriage 36 are in the field of control link 46 with a constant pitch (cf. FIG. 3).

p0034By opening the clamping tongues 38 which rests on the respective support 14 printed sheets 24 and the leading printed sheet halves 76 of which rests on the trailing support 14 printed sheets 24 are now released. This means that the shared print sheet 24 only continues to move in the direction of circulation U, on the other hand in the direction of arrow F no longer be promoted, which means that all shared at the point D printing sheet 24 the direction of the arrow F come with respect to lie in the same location and between the places designated with D and B no further movement are subjected in the direction of arrow F. Now Once the brackets 38 both from a driver 44 affected cars are 36 open, these cars are 36 braked and against the arrow F accelerated, which initiates the return stroke of the carriage 36th

p0035On the way during each revolution of the collection drum 12 from the first feed conveyor 18 to the next transported sheet 24 are of this ever another sheet 24 'congruent, astride placed. The superimposed printed sheets 24, 24 'will now be analogous, as shown above, first to the leading printed sheet halves 76' clamped, advanced in the direction of arrow F, also on the trailing sheet halves 76 clamped and arrow F conveyed to the next feed conveyor 18 where a further printed sheet is placed. This is repeated until, as shown in Fig. 1, one above the other ten printing sheets respectively. During the next two turns are these gathered signatures 24, 24 'conveyed to discharge conveyor 22 where they are transported away captured and collected by the grippers.

p0036In FIG. 8, the zigzag-shaped line is shown by the sheet 24 between two feed conveyors 18 seen from the side perspective. The axis of rotation (2 s. Fig.) Is 16 indicated dash-dotted lines.

p0037The direction of rotation is indicated by U and the direction of the delivery with F. It should be noted that between the locations marked A and B, the lateral edges of the sheet 24 are aligned with each other and hence not experience any displacement in the direction of the delivery stroke F. At the locations marked with B, respectively, the printed sheets 24 are shifted from each other as seen in the direction of the arrow F, and this shift is to the designated D site preserved where this shift will be canceled.

p0038The collector drum 12 can be seen in the direction of arrow F (s. FIG. 1) may be composed of sections. A base portion advantageously has the width of three processing stations (two feed conveyor 18 and a discharge conveyor 20). At or in this base portion to portions of the width of, for example, one or two processing stations (feed conveyor 18) can be switched on or insert. It is thus possible, depending on the number to necessary operations, such as the number of successive DETERMINED Direction printed sheets 24, 24 ', put together those sections to a collecting drum 12 with greater length. Here, the each edition to 14 associated carriage 36 and rail sections 86 by means of coupling members 82 and connectors along pair 102 to be moved together. The supports 14 are of course composed of sections of appropriate length.

p0039In a collection drum 12 with a predetermined certain length may be 36 provided per support 14, a single carriage which more than two clamping tongues 38th In this case, the rail pieces may be 86 sections of a single continuous rail per edition. It is also possible that each carriage 36 has only a single clamping tongue 38 and thus a correspondingly large number of carriages 36 each support 14 are coupled together.

p0040Naturally, it is also possible that each sheet 24, 24 'of more than one clamping tongue 38 on a printing sheet half 76, 76' is retained. It is also possible that each of the feeders 18 more arranged one print sheet 24 feeds.

p0041Finally it should be mentioned that the hollow axle 30 together with the control cylinders 48 and / or the connecting link 96 may be pivotally arranged around the revolution axis 16 to the movement of the carriage 36 or of the clamping tongues 38 are each independently of the respective geometry of the feed and removal conveyor 18 , 22 and the size of the printing sheet to be processed 24, 24 'to adapt. The setting 96 may be configured such that its guide surface is changed, or they can be exchanged with another link 96 to adjust the locations of the closing or opening movement of the clamping tongues 38th

p0042The rail sections 86 may be for example, L-shaped, so when the lever arms 112 are biased in a pivotal direction in particular and the rollers 114 press against the one flank of the rail pieces 86th

p0043The movement of the rail sections 86 may also be performed in other than H in the radial direction, they just have to be directed transversely to the moving direction of the cart 36th

p0044Furthermore, the feed conveyor 18 could be replaced by known investors who 24, 24 'perform the printing sheet with the requirements.

p0045The possibility of using the collecting device according to EP-OS 00 95 603 and the corresponding US Patent No. 4,489,930 will be extended to that now printed sheets can be transported along the lower run without them falling off the supports. This may for example be important if we have made mistakes when placing the sheet, or if a plurality of identical printed sheets must be overlaid so that the already placed on the pads printed sheet must be returned to the top of the upper run.