EP3887295B1 - Device and method for folding and storing book documents - Google Patents

Description

background

A device and a method for folding and for receiving or storing book documents are described here.

In the production of book documents, for example passports or other foldable (security) documents, production lines with a large number of individual processing stations, for example printing stations or laser processing stations, are often used. The realizable overall speed of such a serial production arrangement is always determined by the slowest or most time-consuming (partial) production step.

The final folding and storage of the book documents, which are usually to be produced open or unfolded, for example to be printed, is a comparatively time-consuming production step and at the same time cannot be distributed to different processing stations.

State of the art

In order to avoid a delay in the overall production due to the final production step of folding and receiving or storing, a production area for folding the book documents can be designed to be spacious, so that the usually final production step of folding and receiving or storing is stretched over a longer conveyor route can be. As a result, a high conveying speed of the overall manufacturing arrangement can be realized, so that the conveying throughput of the remaining manufacturing stations does not have to be reduced. However, this greatly increases the space requirement of the overall production arrangement. Furthermore, the structurally mostly relatively large receiving device at the end of an overall production arrangement or overall production line also contributes in particular to the increased space requirement of the last production station.

An example of known receiving devices for folded book documents is Document DE 10 2009 053 442 A1 disclosed.

Furthermore, the document discloses DE 31 00 866 A1 a machine for a system for collecting, binding and stacking of magazines, books or book blocks, the machine having a conveyor line therefor. The machine disclosed here is set up to rotate the conveyed magazines, books or book blocks and/or to place them in a stack.

The document EP 2 292 444 A2 discloses a device for cyclic processing of a printed product by means of a transfer device which feeds the printed product to at least one further processing device. In this case, the transfer device is set up to convey the printed product with a rotary or quasi-rotative translational movement.

The document further discloses DE 20 2009 010 081 U1 a container for receiving security documents, which are provided by a production machine.

The document JP 2012-056188 A discloses an apparatus and corresponding method for folding and picking up book documents by means of a main conveyor, an auxiliary conveyor and a pick-up device.

The document WO2009/037414 A2 discloses an apparatus and corresponding method for folding and receiving book documents, with a lifting device.

Technical task

The object is therefore to provide a space-efficient, reliable production station with a high throughput capacity for folding and receiving or storing book documents. A method for folding and receiving or storing book documents is also to be provided.

Solution of the technical task

The object is achieved by a device according to the main claim and by a method according to the independent method claim. Advantageous refinements and developments are defined by the dependent claims.

Configurations, properties and advantages of the device and the method

A device for folding and receiving or storing book documents comprises a main conveying device with a first conveying surface which is arranged and configured to convey unfolded book documents in a main conveying direction over the first conveying surface and a secondary conveying device with a second conveying surface which is arranged and configured for this purpose is to receive the book documents conveyed by the main conveyor and in a To promote secondary conveying direction and / or against the secondary conveying direction over the second conveying surface, the secondary conveying direction at an angle / transverse, in particular orthogonal, to the main conveying direction. Furthermore, the device comprises a receiving device which is arranged at a spatial distance from the first and/or the second conveying surface, in particular above the main conveying device and/or the secondary conveying device, and is designed to receive folded book documents. The device is designed to fold the conveyed book documents with a movement in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction. Furthermore, a lifting device is arranged and designed to convey the folded book documents from the main conveyor device and/or from the secondary conveyor device into the receiving device.

The conveyance of a book document in a conveying or elevating direction, as used in this patent, is to be understood as an intentional controlled movement of the book document in three-dimensional space along a predetermined two-dimensional straight line in a predetermined direction of extension of the straight line. If relationships between the individual conveying or lifting directions are defined, the definitions (e.g. angular/transverse, orthogonal, parallel) refer to the directions of extension of the corresponding two-dimensional straight lines and/or to the movement orientation along these straight lines (e.g. opposite, parallel). In other words, it can be described that a movement direction designates a movement axis, the movement along the movement axis taking place in a predetermined orientation/direction.

A conveyor surface, as used in this patent, refers to the surface of a conveyor over which the book documents are conveyed. The conveying surfaces within the meaning of this patent are to be understood as at least essentially flat or two-dimensional surfaces over which the book documents are moved in a conveying direction. When unfolded or unfolded book documents are being conveyed, the directions of movement or axes of movement of the book documents in three-dimensional space always run parallel to the at least essentially flat or two-dimensional conveying surfaces. In other words, it can be described that the conveying surfaces of the conveying devices each designate a two-dimensional area in three-dimensional space over which an unfolded or unfolded book document is moved.

The conveying surface of the sub-conveyor may be arranged parallel to the conveying surface of the main conveyor. In particular, the conveying surface of the secondary conveying device can adjoin the conveying surface of the main conveying device at an angle of 180°. The conveying surface of the sub-conveyor and the conveying surface of the main conveyor may lie in a common two-dimensional plane in three-dimensional space. Alternatively, the conveying surface of the secondary conveying device can have an angle other than 180° to the conveying surface of the main conveying device, in particular an angle between 180° and 100° inclusive, preferably an angle between 160° and 120° and particularly preferably an angle of 150°.

If a conveying device is, for example, a circulating conveyor belt or a similar device in which at least parts of the conveying device move together with the book documents in a conveying direction, the conveying surface of such a device within the meaning of this patent is an at least essentially flat or two-dimensional surface in the three-dimensional Space to understand through which the extended surface of the conveyor belt (or comparable device) facing and in contact with the book documents moves in the conveying direction.

For the purposes of this patent, conveying a book document in the secondary conveying direction and counter to the secondary conveying direction denotes a process in which a book document is first conveyed in the secondary conveying direction and then counter to the secondary conveying direction, or a process in which a book document is first conveyed counter to the secondary conveying direction and then in the Auxiliary conveying direction is funded. In other words, it can be described that conveying a book document “in the secondary conveying direction and counter to the secondary conveying direction” designates a sequential or staggered back and forth movement of the book document.

On the one hand, the arrangement according to the invention is particularly space-efficient and compact, since the recording device or the document storage device can be arranged directly above a conveyor device, for example a production line. In particular, the receiving device can be spaced at least far enough from the conveying surface of the secondary conveying device and/or the conveying surface of the main conveying device that an unfolded and/or a folded book document is located in the main conveying direction and/or in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction below the Recording device can be promoted away. In other words, the receiving device can be spaced at least far enough from the conveying surface of the secondary conveying device and/or the conveying surface of the main conveying device in the direction of the book document conveyed on the secondary conveying device and/or on the main conveying device that a folded and/or an unfolded book document is on one conveying surface of the sub-conveyor and/or the conveying surface of the main conveyor and between the sub-conveyor and/or the main conveyor and the receiving device without the book document touching the conveyor.

On the other hand, the proposed device is very reliable and works in a time-efficient manner, since the folding of the book documents can be carried out by an auxiliary conveyor device. The secondary conveyor can fold a book document independently of a cycle of the main conveyor, for example while the main conveyor is temporarily idle to allow other processing stations, for example a printing station, to process the book documents. The angled arrangement of the secondary conveying device or secondary conveying direction transversely to the main conveying device or main conveying direction also contributes to a compact structure or to a space-efficient configuration of the overall conveying device.

The main conveying device and/or the secondary conveying device can be intermittently conveying devices.

The main conveyor device and/or the secondary conveyor device can have conveyor belts, horizontal slides, conveyor rollers, sliding surfaces, conveyor grippers, conveyor cams, conveyor belts and/or circulating carriers.

The lifting device for the folded book documents can convey the book documents in a lifting direction which runs transversely, preferably at least essentially orthogonally, to the main conveying direction and/or to the secondary conveying direction. In other words it can be described that the lifting direction can run parallel to a surface normal of the conveying surface of the main conveying device and/or parallel to a surface normal of the conveying surface of the secondary conveying device. In particular, the lifting device can convey the book documents from the secondary conveyor device and/or the main conveyor device in the direction of the receiving device. In addition, the lifting device in the main conveyor and/or be at least partially retractable in the secondary conveyor, for example into a correspondingly suitable recess in the main conveyor and/or the secondary conveyor. Furthermore, the lifting device can be lifted at least partially into the receiving device, which is arranged above the main conveyor device and/or above the secondary conveyor device.

One advantage here is that the lifting device can be integrated into the main conveyor device and/or the secondary conveyor device in a space-efficient manner, and the folded book documents can also be lifted into a receiving device that is also arranged in a space-efficient manner, with the receiving device being arranged directly above the main conveyor device and/or the secondary conveyor device can be. In particular, the receiving device can be arranged directly above a conveying path of the book documents in the main conveying direction. A space-saving implementation of the overall arrangement is thus further improved.

Furthermore, the receiving device can be arranged and designed to receive the received folded book documents in a plane parallel to the book documents conveyed by the main conveying device and/or to the book documents conveyed by the secondary conveying device. In other words, the receiving device can receive the folded book documents arranged one above the other and arranged parallel to one another, with the received book documents also being able to be stored parallel to the book documents arranged on the main conveyor device and/or on the secondary conveyor device that have not yet been folded. The receiving device can also be arranged and designed to store the last folded book document that was received with an extended surface facing the main conveyor device and/or the secondary conveyor device.

In one variant, the receiving device can also have at least one, in particular two or more, retaining element(s), which are each designed and arranged to fix the received folded book documents in the receiving device. The retaining elements can in particular be flexible, plastically deformable and/or movable device elements depending on a movement of the lifting device, which allow folded book documents to be picked up by the pick-up device, movement of the picked-up book documents out of the pick-up device, for example due to of a gravitational influence, however, impede. A movement of the retaining elements can be synchronized with a movement of the lifting device. Alternatively or additionally, the lifting device can be designed and arranged to at least partially elastically deform the retaining elements during a movement into the receiving device.

Optionally, the receiving device can have a filling level sensor that detects how many folded book documents have been received by the receiving device. The level sensor can, for example, be an optical or haptic sensor. If the receiving device is filled to a predetermined level, the level sensor can trigger the output of a warning signal, for example a warning tone, and/or cause the receiving device to be automatically emptied or replaced. Furthermore, the receiving device can have an output unit which outputs the received folded book documents individually or in groups, for example to an operator of the production device or to an automated unloading unit.

In one variant, the main conveying device and/or the secondary conveying device can have at least one inspection sensor, for example an optically or electromagnetically detecting inspection sensor, for inspecting the conveyed book documents. The main conveying device and/or the secondary conveying device can be arranged and designed to convey the conveyed book documents into a reject receptacle depending on an inspection by the at least one inspection sensor.

In other words, the main conveying device and/or the secondary conveying device can be arranged and configured to either reject a conveyed book document and convey it into the reject receptacle, or not to discard it and convey it to the lifting device, depending on an inspection by the at least one inspection sensor Book documents further promotes in the recording device.

One advantage of this is that only book documents that have not been discarded are stored, while discarded book documents can be sorted out directly from the production arrangement. A subsequent inspection effort for the book documents can be reduced in this way.

The main conveying device can also have at least one stop element, for example a stop pin and/or a stop bar, which lifts off the first conveying surface, in particular in a direction orthogonal to the main conveying direction. The at least one stop element can receive or fix the book documents conveyed by the main conveying device in a predetermined stop position and/or secure the book documents conveyed by the main conveying device against unintentional shifting and/or falling out. In other words, it can be described that the book documents conveyed by the main conveying device can be fixed in a predetermined stop position by means of the stop element and/or that the at least one stop element can limit the conveying path of the book documents along the main conveying direction. Optionally, the at least one stop element can be retractable at least partially in the main conveying device, in particular in a direction orthogonal to the main conveying direction.

The main conveying device or the secondary conveying device can optionally have an additional stop element which is arranged in particular in an area below the receiving device or the document store on the main conveying device or on the secondary conveying device. The additional stop element can, for example, comprise a stop pin and/or a stop bar and stand out from the conveying surface of the main conveying device and/or the secondary conveying device, in particular in a direction orthogonal to the main conveying direction and/or orthogonal to the secondary conveying direction. The additional stop element can receive or fix the book documents conveyed by the secondary conveyor device in a predetermined stop position and/or secure the book documents conveyed by the secondary conveyor device against unintentional shifting and/or falling out. In other words, it can be described that the book documents conveyed by the secondary conveying device can be fixed in a predetermined stop position by means of the additional stop element and/or that the additional stop element can limit the conveying path of the book documents along the secondary conveying direction. The at least one stop element can optionally be retractable at least partially in the main conveying device and/or in the secondary conveying device, in particular in a direction orthogonal to the main conveying direction and/or to the secondary conveying direction. In one variant, the additional stop element can be a stop bar, for example, which is parallel to the main conveying direction of the book documents in an area below the receiving device or of the document store is arranged on the main conveying device and limits conveyance of the book documents counter to the secondary conveying direction.

• Die Faltvorrichtung kann zumindest einen Greifer und/oder zumindest eine Klemme und/oder zumindest einen Horizontalschieber umfassen, welche jeweils dazu angeordnet und ausgebildet sind, ein Buchdokument in der Nebenförderrichtung und/oder entgegen der Nebenförderrichtung zu bewegen. Der Greifer und/oder die Klemme und/oder der Horizontalschieber können insbesondere gemeinsam mit der Nebenfördervorrichtung ausgebildet sein. Der Greifer und/oder die Klemme und/oder der Horizontalschieber können dazu ausgebildet sein, ein von der Hauptfördervorrichtung gefördertes Buchdokument in einem Randbereich des Buchdokuments zu fixieren bzw. zu halten, zu Bewegen und anschließend wieder freizugeben.
• Ferner kann die Faltvorrichtung zumindest einen (Vertikal-)Schieber aufweisen, der dazu angeordnet und ausgebildet ist, zumindest einen Teil eines Buchdokuments zumindest teilweise anzuheben. Der (Vertikal-)Schieber kann in einer Heberichtung beweglich sein, welche zumindest im Wesentlichen orthogonal zur Hauptförderrichtung und/oder zur Nebenförderrichtung und/oder im Wesentlichen parallel zur Heberichtung der Hebevorrichtung verläuft. Zudem kann der (Vertikal-) Schieber in der Hauptfördervorrichtung und/oder in der Nebenfördervorrichtung zumindest teilweise versenkbar sein, zum Beispiel hinein in eine entsprechend geeignete Ausnehmung der Hauptfördervorrichtung und/oder der Nebenfördervorrichtung. Ferner kann der (Vertikal-) Schieber in einer Variante gemeinsam/einstückig mit der Hebevorrichtung ausgebildet sein und/oder jeweils gleichzeitig/parallel mit der Hebevorrichtung in der Heberichtung angehoben bzw. entgegen der Heberichtung abgesenkt werden.

In order to fold the book documents, the device for folding and receiving or storing book documents can have a folding device. However, the folding device does not have to be formed by a uniformly implemented assembly of device elements in all embodiments. Rather, the folding device can also be formed by different device elements of the main conveyor device, the secondary conveyor device and/or the receiving device, which functionally interact to fold the conveyed book documents. In particular, a folding device according to the invention can include the following device elements:

• The folding device can include at least one gripper and/or at least one clamp and/or at least one horizontal slide, each of which is arranged and designed to move a book document in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction. The gripper and/or the clamp and/or the horizontal slide can in particular be designed together with the secondary conveyor device. The gripper and/or the clamp and/or the horizontal slide can be designed to fix or hold a book document conveyed by the main conveyor device in an edge region of the book document, to move it and then to release it again.
• Furthermore, the folding device can have at least one (vertical) slide which is arranged and designed to at least partially lift at least part of a book document. The (vertical) slide can be movable in a lifting direction which runs at least essentially orthogonally to the main conveying direction and/or to the secondary conveying direction and/or essentially parallel to the lifting direction of the lifting device. In addition, the (vertical) slide in the main conveyor and/or in the secondary conveyor can be at least partially lowered, for example into a correspondingly suitable recess in the main conveyor and/or the secondary conveyor. Furthermore, in one variant, the (vertical) slide can be formed jointly/in one piece with the lifting device and/or can be raised simultaneously/parallel with the lifting device in the lifting direction or lowered counter to the lifting direction.

The book documents that are conveyed can have a prepared fold line or a prepared fold axis, which divide the book documents in particular in a mirror-symmetrical manner. In particular, the book documents can be conveyed through the main conveying device in such a way that the folding axis runs parallel to the main conveying device and/or orthogonally to the secondary conveying direction. A book document held/fixed in an edge area, for example by a gripper, can thus be at least partially lifted/folded in if the (vertical) slide below a half of the book document that is not held/fixed is lifted in a lifting direction over a conveying plane/conveying surface of the main conveying device and / or secondary conveyor is also raised. The secondary conveyor device and/or the at least one gripper and/or the at least one clamp and/or the at least one horizontal slide can be designed to move a held/fixed book document into an area above the (vertical) slide before it is raised , so that lifting the (vertical) slider causes the book document to rise/fold.

• Ferner kann die Faltvorrichtung zumindest ein Führungselement aufweisen, welches dazu angeordnet und ausgebildet ist, ein zumindest teilweise angehobenes/angeklapptes und/oder in der Nebenförderrichtung und/oder entgegen der Nebenförderrichtung bewegtes Buchdokument entlang einer vorbestimmten Bewegungsbahn zu führen. Das Führungselement kann zum Beispiel eine im Wesentlichen bogenförmig ausgestaltete Metall-, Keramik- oder Kunststoffschiene sein und/oder angetriebene oder nicht angetriebene Rollenelemente oder Umlaufriemen umfassen.

Lifting/folding the book document in here means pivoting part of the book document, in particular half of a book document, about the prepared fold line or prepared folding axis of the book document, so that the pivoted part of the book document forms an angle of less than 180° with the non-pivoted part of the book document includes.

• Furthermore, the folding device can have at least one guide element, which is arranged and designed to guide a book document that is at least partially raised/folded and/or moved in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction along a predetermined movement path. The guide element can, for example, be a metal, ceramic or plastic rail of essentially arcuate design and/or comprise driven or non-driven roller elements or circulating belts.

For example, a book document held/fixed by a gripper and already partially lifted/folded in by a (vertical) slide can be moved by the gripper and/or the secondary conveyor device in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction, so that the book document is Plant reached with the guide element. By means of a further movement in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction, the already at least partially raised/folded book document can be raised/folded further be, whereby the (vertical) slide can be moved back against the lifting direction.

Furthermore, the folding device can comprise at least one pressing element, which can be moved in a direction essentially orthogonal to the main conveying direction and/or the secondary conveying direction and is designed and arranged for this purpose, one that is moved in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction and/or guided by the guide element to fold book document. The pressing element can be movable in the lifting direction of the lifting device and/or can be lowered and/or raised in a direction parallel to the lifting direction of the lifting device. In particular, the pressing element can be lowered onto an already partially folded/collapsed book document, so that it exerts a pressing force on the book document while the book document is being moved away from under the pressing element. The pressing element can in particular have drivable or non-drivable roller elements and/or drivable or non-drivable circulating elements/circular belts, which are arranged and designed to be brought into contact with the book document to be folded in order to exert a pressing force on the book document.

One advantage of the roller elements and/or the circulating belts is that a movement of the at least partially folded book document under the pressing element can be supported or improved. The movement of the book document under the pressing element can be effected, for example, by the secondary conveying device and/or by the at least one gripper and/or by the at least one clamp and/or by the at least one horizontal slide in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction . Alternatively or additionally, the movement of the book document under the pressure element can also be brought about by a drivable roller element and/or a drivable revolving element/revolving belt of the pressure element. In particular, the book document can be conveyed over a sliding surface of the secondary conveying device and/or the main conveying device under the pressing element.

The book document can be folded by moving the folded book document in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction under the pressing element, which exerts a pressing force on the book document.

• Ferner kann die Faltvorrichtung zumindest eine Führungsrolle umfassen, die dazu angeordnet und ausgebildet ist, ein in der Nebenförderrichtung und/oder entgegen der Nebenförderrichtung bewegtes und/oder von dem (Vertikal-)Schieber angeklapptes/angehobenes und/oder von dem Anpresselement zusammengeklapptes oder gefaltetes Buchdokument zu führen und/oder zu fördern. Die Führungsrolle kann insbesondere an der Aufnahmevorrichtung angeordnet sein und selbstständig angetrieben oder nicht selbstständig angetrieben sein. Die Führungsrolle kann dazu angeordnet und ausgebildet sein, eine Anpresskraft auf ein gefördertes zusammengeklapptes Buchdokument auszuüben, welches über eine Gleitfläche der Nebenfördervorrichtung und/oder der Hauptfördervorrichtung unter der Führungsrolle hinweg gefördert wird. Die Führungsrolle kann insbesondere dazu angeordnet und ausgebildet sein, ein zusammengeklapptes oder gefaltetes Buchdokument in den Bereich oberhalb der Hebevorrichtung bzw. unterhalb der Aufnahmevorrichtung zu fördern, sodass die Hebevorrichtung das gefaltete Buchdokument in die Hebevorrichtung hinein fördern kann.

The pressing element and/or at least part of the pressing element can optionally be arranged on the device for folding and receiving or storing book documents, in particular on the receiving device, such that they can be pivoted about an axis. One advantage of the pivotable mounting of the pressing element (or part of the pressing element) is that a partially folded/raised book document can be gripped from behind by the pivoted pressing element while the pressing element is being lowered, so that pivoting back of the pressing element gripping the book document from behind results in a folding or a Folding of the book document further improved or supported.

• Furthermore, the folding device can comprise at least one guide roller, which is arranged and configured to move a book document in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction and/or folded/raised by the (vertical) slide and/or folded or folded by the pressing element lead and/or promote. The guide roller can be arranged in particular on the receiving device and can be driven independently or not driven independently. The guide roller can be arranged and configured to exert a pressing force on a conveyed folded book document, which is conveyed over a sliding surface of the secondary conveyor and/or the main conveyor under the guide roller. In particular, the guide roller can be arranged and designed to convey a collapsed or folded book document into the area above the lifting device or below the receiving device, so that the lifting device can convey the folded book document into the lifting device.

In a variant, the book document can be folded by moving the folded book document in the secondary conveying direction or counter to the secondary conveying direction under the guide roller, which exerts a pressing force on the book document. Optionally, the pressing element can exert a pressing force on the conveyed/moved book documents in order to fold them together and the guide roller can then exert a pressing force on the book documents in order to fold them, with the pressing force exerted on the book documents by the guide roller being able to be greater than that exerted by the pressing force exerted on the book documents by the pressing element.

Furthermore, embodiments that do not have a pressing element are expressly possible. The folding and the folding by the (vertical) slider Book documents that are at least partially folded/raised and/or guided by the guide element can be achieved solely by the guide roller and/or by the guide roller interacting with a conveyor roller.

Optionally, the device for folding and receiving or storing book documents can also have a conveyor roller, which can be accommodated at least partially in a recess of the main conveyor device and/or the secondary conveyor device. The conveyor roller can in particular be accommodated in the main conveyor device and/or the secondary conveyor device in such a way that the roller surface or the roller jacket surface of the conveyor roller ends at least essentially flush with the conveyor surface of the main conveyor device and/or the conveyor surface of the secondary conveyor device and/or with the conveyor surface of the main conveyor device and/or the conveying surface of the secondary conveying device forms an at least essentially planar contact surface for the book documents. The conveyor roller can be driven independently or not driven independently. In particular, the conveyor roller can have an independent drive unit. Optionally, the conveyor roller can also include a conveyor belt that is guided over the surface of the roller, which can improve the friction and/or contact properties of the conveyor roller.

The conveyor roller can be arranged in an area between the (vertical) slide and the lifting device. In particular, the conveyor roller can be arranged in the area of the guide roller, in particular opposite the guide roller, so that the guide roller and the conveyor roller interact to fold or to exert a pressing force on the book documents and/or to convey the book documents counter to the secondary conveying direction. The axis of rotation of the conveyor roller can run parallel to the guide roller and/or parallel to the main conveyor device.

An advantage of the conveyor roller is that a movement of the book documents in the secondary conveying direction and in particular also counter to the secondary conveying direction can be improved by the conveyor roller. For example, an independently driven conveying roller can convey the book documents counter to the secondary conveying direction, in particular under the guide roller into the area below the receiving device or above the lifting device. The conveyor roller can cause the book documents to be conveyed in the secondary conveying direction and also counter to the secondary conveying direction, in particular when the Book documents are not or are no longer fixed by a gripper and/or a clamp and/or a horizontal slide and/or are being conveyed, and/or are not or are no longer in contact with a pressing element.

In one variant, the device for folding and receiving or storing book documents can have a control or regulation, in particular electronic and/or integrated, which is implemented together with the (overall) device and/or is separable or inseparable from the (overall) )device is connected. The control device can control and/or regulate the movements and/or the drives and/or the synchronization of the individual device components. In particular, the controller can synchronize and coordinate the timing of the movements of the individual moving parts of the (overall) device and control or regulate the respective drives of the moving parts, which are not described in detail above. Optionally, the control can have sensors for quality and process control. The controller can be set up to independently or automatically detect and improve or coordinate or synchronize the temporal synchronization of the movement sequences on the basis of the detection by the sensors for quality and process control.

Optionally, the controller can also evaluate information from the inspection sensor and/or store information about the book documents rejected by the device. In a further development, the controller can automatically order the discarded book documents to be produced again by the preceding production stations in the production chain, so that reject documents are automatically produced again.

One advantage here is that incorrectly produced book documents can be automatically replaced.

• Fördern von ungefalteten Buchdokumenten in einer Hauptförderrichtung;
• Aufnehmen der in der Hauptförderrichtung geförderten Buchdokumente mit einer Nebenfördervorrichtung und fördern der Buchdokumente in einer Nebenförderrichtung und/oder entgegen der Nebenförderrichtung, wobei die Nebenförderrichtung quer/winkelig, insbesondere orthogonal, zur Hauptförderrichtung verläuft;

• Falten der geförderten Buchdokumente mit einer Bewegung der Buchdokumente in der Nebenförderrichtung und/oder entgegen der Nebenförderrichtung;
• Fördern der gefalteten Buchdokumente in eine Aufnahmevorrichtung hinein, welche mit einem räumlichen Abstand von einer Förderoberfläche der Hauptfördervorrichtung und/oder einer Förderoberfläche der Nebenfördervorrichtung, insbesondere oberhalb der Hauptfördervorrichtung und/oder der Nebenfördervorrichtung, angeordnet und dazu ausgebildet ist, gefaltete Buchdokumente aufzunehmen.

A method for folding and receiving or storing book documents includes the following steps:

• Conveying unfolded book documents in a main conveying direction;
• Picking up the book documents conveyed in the main conveying direction with a secondary conveying device and conveying the book documents in a secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction, the secondary conveying direction running transversely/at an angle, in particular orthogonally, to the main conveying direction;

• folding the conveyed book documents with a movement of the book documents in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction;
• Conveying the folded book documents into a receiving device, which is arranged at a spatial distance from a conveying surface of the main conveying device and/or a conveying surface of the secondary conveying device, in particular above the main conveying device and/or the secondary conveying device, and is designed to receive folded book documents.

• Greifen und/oder Klemmen der geförderten Buchdokumente mit einem Greifer und/oder einer Klemme und Bewegen der Buchdokumente in der Nebenförderrichtung und/oder entgegen der Nebenförderrichtung;
• Zumindest teilweises Anheben der geförderten Buchdokumente mit einem (Vertikal-) Schieber;
• Führen eines zumindest teilweise angehobenen und/oder in der Nebenförderrichtung und/oder entgegen der Nebenförderrichtung bewegten Buchdokuments entlang einer vorbestimmten Bewegungsbahn mit einem Führungselement;
• Fördern eines zumindest teilweise angeklappten/angehobenen und/oder gefalteten Buchdokuments in der Nebenförderrichtung und/oder entgegen der Nebenförderrichtung mit einer Förderwalze und/oder einer Führungsrolle;
• Falten eines in der Nebenförderrichtung und/oder entgegen der Nebenförderrichtung bewegten und/oder durch das Führungselement geführten Buchdokuments mit einem Anpresselement.

Optionally, the method can further include at least one of the following steps:

• Gripping and/or clamping the conveyed book documents with a gripper and/or a clamp and moving the book documents in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction;
• At least partial lifting of the conveyed book documents with a (vertical) slide;
• guiding a book document that is at least partially lifted and/or moved in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction along a predetermined movement path with a guide element;
• Conveying an at least partially folded/raised and/or folded book document in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction with a conveying roller and/or a guide roller;
• Folding a book document moved in the secondary conveying direction and/or counter to the secondary conveying direction and/or guided by the guide element with a pressing element.

The order of execution of the method steps specified above can be in the order of the method steps specified here or in any other order.

An advantage of the device disclosed here and the method disclosed here for folding and receiving or storing book documents is that the necessary movement of the book documents to a receiving device is combined or interlocked with the course of a folding process, so that the storage of the finished book documents and the folding of the book documents can be completed with a common sequence of movements. On the one hand, this enables a compact design of the disclosed device and, on the other hand, a time-efficient execution of the storage and folding process. Furthermore, a (time-staggered) back and forth movement of the book document to be folded enables the receiving device to be arranged directly above the conveying path of the unfolded book documents, so that the spatially compact feasibility of the device disclosed here is further improved.

Further goals, features, advantages and application possibilities result from the following description of exemplary embodiments which are not to be understood as limiting, with reference to the associated drawings. All features described and/or illustrated show the subject matter disclosed here individually or in any combination, also independently of their grouping in the claims or their dependencies. The dimensions and proportions of the components shown in the figures are not to scale; they may differ from what is illustrated here in embodiments to be implemented.

Brief description of the drawings

1

shows schematically an example of a device for folding and receiving book documents in a plan view.

2

shows schematically a section of in the 1 device example shown from a rotated 90 ° perspective.

Figures 3 to 10

show schematically and by way of example a process for folding and recording book documents with the 1 and in the 2 shown device.

11

shows an alternative implementation example for a device for folding and receiving book documents in a side view.

Detailed description of the drawings

1 shows an example of a device 1 for folding and receiving book documents in a plan view. A main conveying device 10 conveys the book documents B intermittently in the main conveying direction F.

The book documents B have a prepared fold line or fold axis which divides the book documents B in the middle and pivotally connects a first and a second book document half to one another. In the example shown, the fold line or fold axis runs essentially parallel to the main conveying direction F.

A receiving device 30 is arranged above the main conveyor device 10 and is designed to receive the book documents B in a folded state.

Furthermore, the 1 the secondary conveyor 20 in a plan view. The secondary conveyor device 20 is designed to move the book documents B conveyed in cycles by the main conveyor device 10 in a secondary conveying direction N and (subsequent to the movement of the book documents B in the secondary conveying direction N) to move the book documents B counter to the secondary conveying direction N'.

This in 1 The example shown also includes an inspection sensor 11 and a reject holder 24. The inspection sensor 11, which is a camera sensor in the specific example, uses a controller (not shown) to check the book documents B conveyed by the main conveyor device 10 for property and position errors. If a property error or an uncorrectable positional error of a book document B is determined by the controller, the controller causes the secondary conveyor device 20 to transport the defective book document B into the reject receptacle 24 . In the example shown, this occurs in that the secondary conveying device 20 conveys the faulty book document beyond a predetermined point in the secondary conveying direction N and then releases it. Thus, the controller decides in the in 1 shown example about whether a respective funded by the main conveyor 10 book document B is funded by the secondary conveyor 20 either in the reject receptacle 24 or after further funding steps in the above the main conveyor 10 arranged receiving device 30, these two options are mutually exclusive.

2 shows a section of the in 1 shown device 1 for folding and receiving book documents from a 90 ° rotated perspective.

Further details of the device, which are also indicated by the in 1 device shown are included, but are not shown for reasons of clarity, are representative of both figures 2 described.

As in 2 shown schematically, the secondary conveying device 20 includes a gripper 22 which is designed to grip a book document B conveyed by the main conveying device 10 . In the concrete example shown, the gripper 22 shown is part of the secondary conveying device 20 and can be moved both in the secondary conveying direction N and counter to the secondary conveying direction N', so that the book document B fixed by the gripper 22 can be moved back and forth. The gripper 22 is designed to grip an edge region of the book documents B conveyed cyclically by the main conveyor device 10 or to a book document half, so that the book document half not fixed by the gripper 22 can be pivoted about the prepared fold line or fold axis with the one defined by the gripper 22 fixed book document half is connected.

In other exemplary embodiments (not shown), as an alternative or in addition to gripper 22, secondary conveyor device 20 can also have conveyor belts, horizontal slides, conveyor rollers, conveyor cams, conveyor belts and/or circulating carriers, which are each designed and arranged to move the book documents B in the secondary conveying direction N and/or against the secondary conveying direction N'.

Next shows the 2 the receiving device 30 for the folded book documents B' in a cross-sectional view. In the example shown, the receiving device 30 is arranged above the main conveyor device 10, but in other embodiments it can also be arranged above the secondary conveyor device 20 or above both conveyor devices.

The receiving device 30 shown has an opening on a side facing the main conveyor device 10 for receiving folded book documents B', the opening of the receiving device 30 being located above a lifting device 14 and allowing the passage of folded book documents B'. Furthermore, the specifically shown receiving device 30 has two retaining elements 32, 33, which secure the folded book documents B' received in the receiving device 30 against falling out or moving out of the opening, for example due to the acting force of gravity and/or vibrations of the device . In the specific example, the two retaining elements 32, 33 are elastically deformable or flexible spring elements made of a metal material, but in other embodiments they can also be non-elastic movable elements made of a metal or non-metal material. In particular, movable hinges and/or spring hinges can also serve as retaining elements.

The one in the 2 The receiving device 30, shown only schematically, is designed to receive and/or stack a large number of folded book documents B' and can have other features not shown in the figures for reasons of clarity, for example an unloading opening or unloading flap for removing/moving out the stored items book documents.

In the 2 The lifting device 14 shown and already mentioned is completely sunk in a recess of the main conveyor 10 in a resting state, so that it does not block the conveying path of the book documents B cyclically conveyed by the main conveyor 10 . Furthermore, the lifting device 14 shown can be raised in the lifting direction H, which runs orthogonally to the main conveying direction F and to the secondary conveying direction N, and can be lowered counter to the lifting direction H′. The lifting device 14 is arranged below the opening of the receiving device 30 and is suitable for lifting a folded book document B' into the receiving device 30 .

Next shows the 2 the vertical slide 12, which is also completely sunk in a recess of the main conveyor 10 in a state of rest and can be raised in the lifting direction H and counter to the lifting direction H' can be lowered. In the example shown, the vertical slide 12 is not arranged below the receiving device 30 . However, this is not necessary in all embodiments of a device for folding and receiving book documents. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the vertical slide 12 is not coupled to the lifting device 14 and is designed separately from it. However, embodiments are also possible in which the vertical slide 12 is common and/or in one piece is formed with the lifting device 14 and / or in which the vertical slide 12 and the lifting device 14 are always raised or lowered synchronously or uniformly.

Next shows the 2 a guide roller 34 arranged on the receiving device 30, which is designed to come into contact with a folded book document moving in the secondary conveying direction N or counter to the secondary conveying device N' and to exert a pressing force on a folded book document. However, the guide roller 34 does not come into contact with an unfolded book document B conveyed by the main conveyor device 10, since the unfolded book documents B are guided under the guide roller 34 by the main conveyor device 10 (essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the guide roller 34).

Furthermore, the 2 a pressing element 36 that can be raised in the lifting direction H and lowered counter to the lifting direction H′, which is arranged on the receiving device 30 so that it can pivot about an axis that is essentially parallel to the main conveying direction H. In addition, the pressing element 36 has the revolving roller 37 over which a driven revolving belt (not shown) is guided. The pressing element 36 is designed to be lowered onto a book document conveyed by the secondary conveying device 20 in the secondary conveying direction N or counter to the secondary conveying direction N′ and to exert a pressing force on the book document with the circulating belt guided over the circulating roller 37 . This is further described with reference to the following figures.

Next shows the 2 the curved guide rail 38, which is also arranged/attached to the receiving device 30 in the example shown. In the example shown, the guide rail 38 is a metal rail coated with Teflon, which is designed to be brought into contact with a part of a book document B that is conveyed or moved by the secondary conveying device 20 counter to the secondary conveying direction N', so that at least part of the Plant placed book document B moves along a trajectory predetermined by the guide rail 38.

In addition, the 2 schematically the conveying surface OH of the main conveying device 10 and the conveying surface ON of the secondary conveying device 20. As in 2 shown schematically, the first conveying surface OH and the second conveying surface ON in the example shown form a common area or border on one another at an angle of 180°. The conveyor surfaces OH, ON of the conveyors In the example shown, 10, 20 are the surfaces of the conveying devices 10, 20 over which the book documents B are conveyed, or the surfaces of the conveying devices 10, 20 with which the conveyed book documents B are arranged or moved/conveyed . The receiving device 30 is arranged at least far enough away from the conveying surfaces OH, ON of the conveying devices 10, 20 that it does not prevent the book documents from being conveyed in the main conveying direction F and in the secondary conveying direction N and counter to the secondary conveying direction N′.

The process of folding and recording book documents with one in the Figures 1 and 2 shown device is shown schematically and by way of example with the Figures 3 to 10 clarified.

3 shows the in 2 shown device, wherein an unfolded book document B conveyed by the main conveying device 10 is first conveyed into an area below the receiving device 30 and is fixed on one side by the gripper 22 of the secondary conveying device 20 . The prepared fold line of book document B is at the in 3 example shown below a marginal edge of the receiving device 30 arranged above the main conveying device 10. As a result, a part or half of the book document B conveyed cyclically by the main conveying device 10 in the main conveying direction F is located below the receiving device 30, with the unfolded book document B initially not being in Plant with the arranged on the receiving device 30 guide roller 34 arrives.

4 shows how the secondary conveying device 20 or the gripper 22 initially conveys or moves/pulls the book document B fixed by the gripper 22 in the secondary conveying direction. The book document B is thereby moved out of an area below the opening of the receiving device 30 .

If the book document B from the controller (not shown) with the in 1 If the inspection sensor 11 shown has been identified as defective, the gripper 22 can convey/move the book document B beyond an outer edge of the secondary conveyor device 20 and then release it, so that the defective book document B falls into the reject receptacle 24, which is in the 4 is only indicated.

However, in order to clarify the further production steps for folding and receiving the book documents B, it is assumed in the examples shown in the figures that the book documents B shown are not to be discarded.

figure 5 shows how a part of the book document B or a book document half is lifted by the lifting of the vertical slide 12 that now follows.

The vertical slide 12 is moved out of the main conveyor device 10 in the lifting direction H, with the book document B fixed by the gripper 22 being located above the vertical slide 12 with a book document half not directly fixed by the gripper. As a result, the book document B to be folded is folded. In other words, it can be described that the book document half not fixed by the gripper 22 is pivoted about the fold line or fold axis by the vertical slide 12 in relation to the book document half fixed by the gripper 22, so that the two book document halves enclose an angle of less than 180°. In particular, this can also happen at the same time as the movement/conveyance of the book document B caused by the secondary conveyor device 20 and/or by the gripper 22 in the opposite direction to the secondary conveying direction N', so that the secondary conveyor device 20 and/or the gripper 22 (by a horizontal movement) and the Vertical slide 12 (by a vertical movement) can bring about a folding of the book document to be folded. As a result, the execution of the method for folding the book documents can be further accelerated.

Furthermore, the book document B is brought into contact with the arched guide rail 38 by lifting one half of the book document by the vertical slide 12 in the lifting direction H and/or by conveying or moving counter to the secondary conveying direction N'. The book document half raised or folded in by the vertical slide 12 is guided by the guide rail 38 along a predetermined movement path, while the secondary conveyor device 20 and/or the gripper 22 move the book document B to be folded further counter to the secondary conveying direction N′.

6 shows the lowering of the pressing element 36 with the revolving roller 37 onto the book document to be folded against the lifting direction H'. After the half of the book document has been lifted or folded in, the vertical slide 12 is again lowered into the main conveying device 10 against the lifting direction H', so that it prevents a further movement or conveyance of the book document B by the gripper 22 or does not stand in the way of the secondary conveying device 20 or releases the conveying path counter to the secondary conveying direction N'.

The pressing element 36 is lowered onto the book document B to be folded, so that the circulating belt (not shown for reasons of clarity) guided over the circulating roller 37 comes into contact with the book document B and exerts a pressing force on the book document B counter to the lifting direction H'. In other words, it can be described that the pressing element 36 with the circulating roller 37 and the circulating belt guided over the circulating roller 37 exerts a pressing force in the direction of the main conveyor 10 on the book document B to be folded, so that the book document B is folded.

Figure 7a shows that the gripper 22 or the secondary conveying device 20 now releases the book document B′ folded by the pressing element 36 . The gripper 22 is moved away from the folded book document B′ in the secondary conveying direction N, the folded book document B′ being moved further counter to the secondary conveying direction N′ via the main conveying device 10 by the circulating belt guided over the circulating roller 37 . As a result, the folded book document B′ comes into contact with the guide roller 34 which, like the conveyor belt guided over the circulating roller 37 , exerts a pressing force on the folded book document B′ in the direction of the main conveyor device 10 . The guide roller 34 thus interacts with the pressing element 36 when the book document B′ is folded or improves the folding of the book document B′ caused by the pressing element 36 . To improve the folding or to improve the exertion of a pressing force on the folded book document B′, the pressing element 36 can also be pivoted about a pivot axis that is essentially parallel to the main conveying direction F.

Figure 7b shows, deviating from the Figures 1 to 7a and Figures 8 to 11 , an example of a device for folding and receiving book documents with an additional feed roller 35. The feed roller 35 is in in Figure 7b example shown an independently driven conveyor roller, which is sunk in the main conveyor 10 partially. In the example shown, the axis of rotation of the feed roller 35 runs parallel to the axis of rotation of the guide roller 34. The feed roller 35 supports the conveyance of the folded book document B' against the secondary conveying direction N' and works with the guide roller 34 and/or the pressing element 36 to fold the book document or for exerting a pressing force on the book document.

As in 8 shown, the folded book document B′ thus reaches an area above the lifting device 14 lowered into the main conveyor device 10 or in an area below the opening of the receiving device 30. The receiving device 30 is spaced far enough from the conveying surface OH of the main conveyor device 10 that it stops the movement of the folded book document B' is not impeded.

The pressing element 36 with the revolving roller 37 is lifted in the lifting direction H in order to release the conveying path for the further book documents B to be conveyed by the main conveying device 10 .

The lifting device 14 arranged below the folded book document B′ or the opening of the receiving device 30 is now raised in the lifting direction H.

As in 9 As shown, the lifting device 14 conveys the folded book document B′ in the lifting direction H through the opening of the receiving device 30 into the receiving device 30 . Here, the lifting device 14 with the conveyed book document B' deforms the flexible, plastically deformable retaining elements 32, 33, so that the folded book document B' reaches the interior of the receiving device 30.

10 shows that after a subsequent lowering of the lifting device 14 counter to the lifting direction H', the flexible, plastically deformable retaining elements 32, 33 fix the folded book document B' inside the receiving device 30 or the folded book document B' against falling out of the receiving device 30 due to the Secure gravity by blocking/impeding movement of the folded book document B' counter to the lifting direction H'.

The lifting device 14, which is lowered back into the main conveyor device 10 counter to the lifting direction H', releases the conveying path for further book documents to be conveyed in cycles by the main conveyor device 10, so that—as in 3 shown - a respective further book document B to be folded can be conveyed into the area below the receiving device 30 .

11 shows schematically an alternative structure of a device 2 for folding and receiving book documents, in which all process steps for folding and picking up the book documents B can be carried out exclusively with a movement of the book document B counter to the secondary conveying direction N' (and in the lifting direction H). Differing from the in the Figures 1 to 10 In the device shown, the book documents B are first conveyed by the main conveying device 10 into an area next to the receiving device 30, so that conveying/moving the book documents B in the secondary conveying direction N can be dispensed with. How through the 11 clarifies, however, such a device takes up a significantly larger amount of space and has a significantly larger space requirement. In addition, with a device 2, as in 11 shown, the secondary conveying device 20 or the gripper 22 are moved back and forth in the course of production (or are moved in the secondary conveying direction N and counter to the secondary conveying direction N'). The distance over which the secondary conveyor device 20 or the gripper 22 must be moved is compared to a device 1, as shown in FIGS Figures 1 to 10 is shown enlarged.

The variants described above and their structural and operational aspects are only intended to provide a better understanding of the structure, the mode of operation and the properties; they do not limit the disclosure to the exemplary embodiments. The figures are schematic, with some of the essential properties and effects being shown in a significantly enlarged form in order to clarify the functions, principles of action, technical configurations and features. Any mode of operation, any principle, any technical configuration and any feature that is/are disclosed in the figures or in the text, with all claims, any feature in the text and in the other figures, other modes of operation, principles, technical configurations and features that are contained in this disclosure or result from it, can be combined freely and arbitrarily, so that all conceivable combinations of the variants described can be assigned. This also includes combinations between all individual statements in the text, that is to say in each section of the description, in the claims and also combinations between different variants in the text, in the claims and in the figures. The claims also do not limit the disclosure and thus the possible combinations of all the features shown with one another. All disclosed features are also explicitly disclosed here individually and in combination with all other features.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus (1, 2) for folding and receiving book documents, comprising

   a main conveying apparatus (10) having a first conveying surface (OH) arranged and adapted to convey unfolded book documents (B) in a main conveying direction (F) over the first conveying surface (OH),

   a secondary conveying apparatus (20) with a second conveying surface (ON), which is arranged and constructed to receive book documents (B) conveyed by the main conveying apparatus (10) and to convey them in a secondary conveying direction (N) and against the secondary conveying direction (N') over the second conveying surface (ON), the secondary conveying direction (N) running transversely to the main conveying direction (F),

   a receiving apparatus (30) which is arranged at a spatial distance from the first and/or the second conveying surface (OH, ON) and is designed to receive folded book documents (B'), wherein

   the apparatus (1, 2) is designed to fold the conveyed book documents (B) in each case with a movement of the book documents (B) in the secondary conveying direction (N) and/or against the secondary conveying direction (N'), and wherein

   a lifting apparatus (14) is arranged and designed to convey the folded book documents (B') from the main conveying apparatus (10) and/or from the secondary conveying apparatus (20) into the receiving apparatus (30), and wherein

   the lifting apparatus (14) is at least partially retractable in the main conveying apparatus (10) and/or in the secondary conveying apparatus (20), and wherein

   the lifting apparatus (14) can be lifted at least partially into the receiving apparatus (30).
2. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein
   the lifting apparatus (14) conveys the folded book documents (B') in a lifting direction (H) which is at least substantially orthogonal to the main conveying direction (F) and/or to the secondary conveying direction (N).
3. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein

   the receiving apparatus (30) is further arranged and configured to receive

   the received folded book documents (B') respectively in a plane parallel to the book documents (B) conveyed by the main conveying apparatus (10) and/or to the book documents (B) conveyed by the secondary conveying apparatus (20), and/or

   the receiving apparatus (30) is further arranged and constructed to store

   the respective last received folded book document (B') with an extended surface facing the main conveying apparatus (10) and/or the secondary conveying apparatus (20), and/or

   the receiving apparatus (30) further comprises at least one, in particular two or more, retaining element(s) (32, 33) which are designed and arranged to fix the received folded book documents (B') in the receiving apparatus (30), and/or

   the receiving apparatus (30) has a filling level sensor which detects how many folded book documents (B') are picked up by the pick-up Apparatus (30).
4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein

   the main conveying apparatus (10) and/or the secondary conveying apparatus (20) have at least one inspection sensor (11), for example an optically or electromagnetically detecting inspection sensor, for inspecting the conveyed book documents (B), and/or

   the main conveying apparatus (10) and/or the secondary conveying apparatus (20) are further arranged and designed to convey the conveyed book documents (B) into a reject receptacle (24) depending on an inspection.
5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a folding arrangement comprising

   at least one gripper (22) and/or at least one clamp and/or one horizontal pusher, which are each arranged and designed to move a book document (B) in the secondary conveying direction (N) and/or against the secondary conveying direction (N'), and/or

   at least one conveying roller (35) arranged and constructed to move a book document (B) in the secondary conveying direction (N) and/or against the secondary conveying direction (N'), and/or

   at least one pusher (12) arranged and designed to at least partially lift a book document, and/or

   at least one guide element (38) which is arranged and designed to guide a book document (B), which is at least partially raised and/or moved in the secondary conveying direction (N) and/or against the secondary conveying direction (N'), along a predetermined movement path, and/or

   at least one pressing element (36) which is movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main conveying direction (F) and/or to the secondary conveying direction (N) and is designed and arranged to fold a book document (B) moved in the secondary conveying direction (N) or against the secondary conveying direction (N') and/or guided by the guide element (38), and/or

   at least one guide roller (34) which is arranged and designed to guide and/or convey a book document (B') moved against the secondary conveying direction (N') and/or folded by the pusher (12) and/or folded by the pressing element (36).
6. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein

   the pressing element (36) can be pivoted in a controlled manner about at least one axis, and/or,

   the pressing element (36) comprises a drivable, in particular independently drivable, circulation element (37), and/or
   the guide roller (34) is drivable, in particular independently drivable, and/or

   the conveying roller (35) is drivable, in particular independently drivable, and/or

   the pusher (12) is movable substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the lifting apparatus (14), and/or

   the pusher (12) is at least partially retractable in the main conveying apparatus (10) and/or in the secondary conveying apparatus (20), and/or

   the gripper (22) and/or the clamp and/or the horizontal pusher are part of the secondary conveying apparatus (20) and/or are formed together with the secondary conveying apparatus (20).
7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising

   a control system, in particular an electronic control device, which is implemented together with the apparatus (1, 2) and/or is connected to the apparatus (1, 2) in a separable or inseparable manner, wherein

   the control device controls and/or regulates the movements and/or the drives and/or the synchronisation of the individual apparatus components.
8. Method for folding and recording book documents, comprising the steps:

   - conveying unfolded book documents (B) in a main conveying direction (F) with a main conveying apparatus (10);

   - picking up the book documents (B) conveyed in the main conveying direction (F) with a secondary conveying apparatus (20) and conveying the book documents (B) in a secondary conveying direction (N) and against the secondary conveying direction (N'), the secondary conveying direction (N) running transversely to the main conveying direction (F);

   - folding the conveyed book documents (B) with a movement of the book documents (B) in the secondary conveying direction (N) and/or against the secondary conveying direction (N'); and

   - conveying the folded book documents (B') into a receiving apparatus (30) which is arranged at a spatial distance from a conveying surface of the main conveying apparatus (10) and/or a conveying surface of the auxiliary conveying apparatus and is designed to receive folded book documents (B'), with a lifting apparatus (14) which is arranged and designed to convey the folded book documents from the main conveying apparatus (10) and/or from the auxiliary conveying apparatus (20) into the receiving apparatus, wherein

   the lifting apparatus (14) is at least partially retractable in the main conveying apparatus (10) and/or in the secondary conveying apparatus (20), and wherein

   the lifting apparatus (14) can be lifted at least partially into the receiving apparatus (30).
9. Method according to the preceding claim, further comprising at least one of the steps:

   - gripping and/or clamping the conveyed book documents (B) with a gripper (22) and/or a clamp and moving the book documents (B) in the secondary conveying direction (N) and/or against the secondary conveying direction (N');

   - at least partially lifting the conveyed book documents (B) with a pusher (12);

   - guiding a book document (B), which is at least partially lifted and/or moved in the secondary conveying direction (N) and/or against the secondary conveying direction (N'), along a predetermined movement path with a guide element (38);

   - conveying an at least partially folded/raised and/or folded book document (B') in the secondary conveying direction (N) and/or against the secondary conveying direction (N') with a conveying roller (35) and/or a guide roller (34);

   - folding of a book document (B) moved in the secondary conveying direction (N) and/or against the secondary conveying direction (N') and/or guided by the guide element (38) with a pressing element (36).

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