Method and apparatus for forming groups of sheets from a plurality of sheets

Abstract

In a method for forming groups of sheets from a plurality of sheets, initially two sheets are provided, respectively. The sheets are transferred into a common sheet track. If the sheets provided belong to the same group of sheets, these sheets are transferred into a collating station. Otherwise, one of the sheets is transferred into the collating station and the other one of the sheets is retained at a stop location.

1 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       2 . Method for forming groups of sheets from a plurality of sheets, comprising the following steps: 
 (a) providing at least two sheets, respectively;    (b) if the sheets provided in step (a) belong to the same group of sheets 
 transferring these sheets into a common sheet track and through a double-storey stop location into a collating station; and  
   (c) otherwise 
 simultaneous transferring of the sheets into a common sheet track and feeding the sheets into the double-storey stop location in a form in which they are arranged on top of each other,  
 moving the sheet of a previous group of the sheets out of the double-storey stop location into the collating station and retaining the other sheet of a subsequent group in the double-storey stop location; and  
 moving the sheet of the previous group out of the collating station;  
 moving the sheet of the subsequent group out of the double-storey stop location into the collating station in a manner offset in time as against the sheet of the previous group.  
   
   
   
       3 - 13 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       14 . Apparatus for forming groups of sheets from a plurality of sheets, comprising: 
 a sheet-feeding means wherein two sheets are arranged, for providing the sheets;    a sheet-transferring means for transferring the sheets into a common sheet track;    a stop location means receiving one or several sheets from the sheet-transferring means;    a collating station collating sheets of a group of sheets; and    a control means which 
 if the sheets provided by the sheet-feeding means belong to the same group of sheets 
 effects the transferral of these sheets into a common sheet track and through a double-storey stop location into a collating station, and  
 
 otherwise 
 the simultaneous transferral of the sheets into a common sheet track and the feeding of the sheets into the double-storey stop location,  
 the moving of the sheet of a previous group of the sheets out of the double-storey stop location into the collating station and the retention of the other sheet of a subsequent group in the double-storey stop location; and  
 the moving of the sheet of the previous group out of the collating station;  
 the moving of the sheet of the subsequent group out of the double-storey stop location into the collating station in a manner offset in time as against the sheet of the previous group.  
 
   
   
   
       15 - 24 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       25 . Method as claimed in  claim 2 , comprising the following step: 
 repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) for all sheets of a group of sheets.    
   
   
       26 . Method as claimed in  claim 2 , comprising the following steps: 
 for all sheets of a group of sheets: 
 repeated performance of steps (a) and (b), and one-off performance of step (c); and  
   for all sheets of the next group: 
 transferring the sheet retained; and  
 repeated performance of steps (a), (b) and (c) for the remaining sheets of this group of sheets.  
   
   
   
       27 . Method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the sheets are arranged side by side in a sheet conveying direction in step (a), and wherein same are transferred from the side-by-side arrangement into the common sheet track in step (a).  
   
   
       28 . Method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the sheets are arranged side by side in a first sheet conveying direction in step (a) and are subsequently moved in the direction of stop location and collating station in a second sheet conveying direction in steps (b) and (c).  
   
   
       29 . Method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the first sheet conveying direction is perpendicular to the second sheet conveying direction.  
   
   
       30 . Method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the sheets are arranged on top of one other in a sheet conveying direction in step (a).  
   
   
       31 . Method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the two sheets are transferred, in step (c), such that they are arranged, in the common sheet track, behind one other in a non-shingled manner in sheet conveying direction or that they are arranged behind one other in a shingled manner in sheet conveying direction or that they are arranged on top of one other in sheet conveying direction.  
   
   
       32 . Method as claimed in  claim 27 , comprising the following step after step (a): 
 retaining the two sheets, which have been provided in step (a), at a further stop location.    
   
   
       33 . Method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein step (a) includes the following steps: 
 printing upon a paper web;    cutting the printed paper web so as to provide the two sheets.    
   
   
       34 . Method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein three or more sheets are provided in step (a).  
   
   
       35 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the control means controls the sheet-feeding means so as to transfer all sheets of a group of sheets into the collating station.  
   
   
       36 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the control means 
 controls the sheet-feeding means so as to transfer all sheets of a group of sheets into the collating station and to transfer one sheet of a next group of sheets into the stop location means and retain it; and    controls the stop location means so as to transfer the sheet retained in the stop location means into the collating station, and controls the sheet-feeding means and the sheet-transferring means so as to transfer all remaining sheets of the next group into the collating station.    
   
   
       37 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the sheet-feeding means arranges the sheets side by side in a sheet conveying direction and wherein  
     the sheet-transferring means is arranged between the sheet-feeding means and the stop location, and wherein same receives the sheets provided from the sheet-feeding means and transfers them from the side-by-side arrangement into a common sheet track.  
   
   
       38 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  14 , wherein the sheet-feeding means arranges the sheets side by side in a first sheet conveying direction, and wherein the sheet-transferring means is arranged between the sheet-feeding means and the stop location, sheet-transferring means moving the sheets in a manner such that they are arranged behind one another in a second sheet conveying direction in the direction of the stop location and the collating station.  
   
   
       39 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the first sheet conveying direction is essentially perpendicular to the second sheet conveying direction.  
   
   
       40 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the sheet-feeding means provides the sheets on top of one another in a sheet conveying direction.  
   
   
       41 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the sheet-transferring means transfers the sheets, which have been fed by the sheet-feeding means, into the common sheet track such that they are arranged behind one other in a non-shingled manner in the sheet conveying direction, that they are arranged behind one other in a shingled manner in the sheet conveying direction, or that they are arranged on top of one other in the sheet conveying direction.  
   
   
       42 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 37 , comprising: 
 a further stop location means arranged between the sheet-feeding means and the sheet-transferring means.    
   
   
       43 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the sheet-feeding means includes a printer and a cutting machine.  
   
   
       44 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the sheet-feeding means provides three or more sheets.