EP2228331B1 - Method and device for accepting and further processing flexible flat objects - Google Patents

Description

The invention is in the field of conveying and further processing of flexible, flat objects, in particular of printed products. It relates to an apparatus and a method for taking over and processing such articles, in particular printed products, such as e.g. Newspapers, magazines, brochures, catalogs, partial products of such printed products, or inserts, brochures, CDs.

The further processing of printed products is carried out at ever greater speeds. Furthermore, ever more complex products are assembled and processed from several sub-products. Both, the high speeds and the complexity of the products, requires a very precise control of the product position at each time of processing.

A very common process is the so-called plugging: In a folded outer product (also referred to as the main product) one or more sub-products (also called precursors) are inserted. The partial products to be inserted can be printed products or other items, eg supplements, brochures, CDs.

The folded main product is, for example, from a gripper conveyor to a plug-in system, e.g. a plug-in drum or a circulation system. The plug-in system has several receiving units in the form of pockets. In this, the main products are inserted with the folded edge ahead and braked on acting as a stop bottom of the bag. The main product is then opened, and the other items are inserted into the opened main product.

From the patent US 4,124,203 It is known to use bags with fixed and pivotally mounted side walls. In filling stations, main and intermediate products are introduced into the pockets. To prevent the main products from jumping back, each bag is equipped with two spring-loaded brake elements. After braking the main product as it is inserted into the pocket, the braking elements are moved away along with the pivotable sidewall to provide space for opening and preparing the primary product for introduction of the precursors.

From the not pre-published CH Application No. 00788/08 is also known to leave the folded main product in the gripper and it during the insertion process, ie as long as the gripper must be opened to accommodate the other product, supported by mitbewegte attacks and additional support elements on the folded edge and on the side surfaces.

In the known devices, the feed direction runs regularly in a different direction than the further promotion by the receiving units. For the transfer, the isolated items must be transferred within a very short time in the moving recording units. Therefore, there is little space and time available for the actual handover. The objects are headed with an edge introduced through an opening of the receiving unit in this. The articles often experience very strong (negative) accelerations and are stopped and aligned by a part of the recording unit. This lying in the trajectory of the supplied objects part against which the leading edge runs, is referred to as a stop. The sudden deceleration at the stop can cause the newly supplied object to rebound from the stop and spring back in the direction opposite to the feed direction. It can shift laterally. If it consists of several items, they can also move against each other and / or twist. Depending on the flexibility or stability of the object, the deceleration at the stop also to a Bend or bend the item. Overall, the excessive braking at the stop leads to undesirable inaccuracies in the position of the object. These can lead to errors in the further processing chain and should therefore be avoided.

The invention is therefore based on the object, an apparatus and a method for taking over and further processing of flexible, flat objects, in particular of printed products to specify, in which the mentioned disadvantages are avoided and a good control of the subject position is ensured even during and after large accelerations ,

The object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 14. Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The device according to the invention comprises at least one receiving unit, which is movable along a closed circulation path and is capable of receiving an object at a transfer point which is supplied by a supply station at a feed speed. The receiving unit forms a stop for the object to be transferred, which limits the movement of the object in the feed direction. According to the invention, at least one holding and / or braking element which is moved along with the receiving unit is present. This is able, at least indirectly, to act on the object at least in the region of the transfer point and to decelerate the object before reaching the stop, ie to reduce its speed relative to the delivery speed.

According to an alternative embodiment which serves to understand the invention, the holding and / or braking elements interact directly with the object to be taken over and at least partially absorb its kinetic energy. The directed kinetic energy is at least partially converted into non-directional kinetic energy (thermal energy, friction), i. at least partially dissipated. The strong damping of the object in the receiving compartment prevents the object from jumping back or shifting uncontrollably. In addition, it is avoided that the article in the receiving unit or at the stop upsets and turns over or bends. The location of the object is therefore very easy to control.

According to the invention, the braking effect is mainly based on a momentum transfer: A folded product already held in the receiving compartment serves as a receptacle for a further product to be taken over. It is preferably held so that its folded edge is spaced from the stop. For this purpose, the holding and / or braking element is used. It fixes the product in the compartment, but in such a way that it can still move through the action of the outside without being damaged. The other product now transfers its momentum when plugging its impulse partly on the already held product. Both objects move together at reduced speed in the feed direction or towards the stop.

The alternative embodiment described above and the invention may also be combined. For example, in the case of a plug-in drum, a brake element can be used for the first product (eg main product), which brakes the first product by friction. When einzusteckenden further product (eg precursor), a simple holding element can be used, which fixes the first product in the receiving unit, but allows shifts in the feed direction and thus a slowing down of the second product by means of momentum transfer.

The invention can be realized on the basis of known transfer devices, in particular circulation or drum systems with a plurality of receiving compartments in the form of pockets, which are movable along an arbitrary or circular path. For example, the invention may be implemented on the basis of bag or gripper conveyors, insert drums, cutting drums and the like. The receiving units may be individually along an arbitrarily shaped conveying path moving pockets or compartments of a plug-in drum. They can also be realized by a plurality of cooperating support elements. The holding and / or braking elements are preferably connected to the receiving units and are moved by them. To implement a plug-in function, multiple feed units and multiple takeover points for main product and precursor (s) may be present; However, the invention can be used advantageously even with a simple transfer between two conveyors or with a simple processing, e.g. when trimming an object. Further processing in the sense of the invention therefore also comprises simple conveying.

The feed unit may receive items from a store, eg stack, wraps, or from a moving formation, eg, scale formation, stream of individual products, gripper stream. The supplied articles may be simple objects, eg simple printed products or samples, or more complex collections, eg a small stack of different superimposed printed products. The feeding direction is usually in the plane of the object; the conveying direction of the receiving units is perpendicular to it. The stop, for example, the bottom of the bag, is oriented substantially perpendicular to the feed direction and to the conveying direction (surface normal in the feed direction).

The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: moving at least one receiving unit along a closed path of movement past an acceptance point; Picking up the objects by the at least one receiving unit; Moving at least one holding and / or braking element at least in the region of the transfer point with the receiving unit; Braking the supplied object at least partially and indirectly by the holding and / or braking element. The product to be accepted is indirectly decelerated by partially transferring its momentum to an already adopted product, which is displaceably mounted in the receiving unit by a holding element.

Preferably, the holding and / or braking element is adapted to the receiving unit, the product and its feed rate, that the leading edge just barely reaches the stop, in particular with a lying below a certain limit speed, which may also be zero. This is achieved in particular by suitable choice of shape, position and / or mechanical properties, e.g. Friction coefficient, elasticity, of the holding and / or braking element achieved. Overall, the object is gently aligned with the stop. But it is also possible that the object does not reach the stop and the stop therefore no longer acts as a stop in the conventional sense (without holding and / or braking element, the stop function would be given again). Jumping back and bending / bending is avoided in any case; The alignment can in principle be done in other ways.

The holding and / or braking element preferably acts on one of the main surfaces of the article and not in the manner of a stop on the edges. In the alternative embodiment, the holding and / or braking element is more the braking effect (dissipation of kinetic energy) in the foreground. In the invention, the holding and / or braking element is used primarily to record the already taken over item in the receiving unit so that it can take over the impulse of the further object.

In the alternative embodiment and in the invention, the holding and / or braking element preferably cooperates with a support surface for the object or with another holding and / or braking element. The support surface may be part of the receiving unit or may be additionally provided.

The holding and / or braking element consists for example of an inherently elastic, e.g. compressible material and / or has formula elasticity. It may be formed, for example, as a pillow-shaped loop of a thin elastic material, in particular plastic. It can also be one or more leaf springs. The invention may also be grippers.

In order to decelerate an object by means of friction or to hold it in the receiving unit, the holding and / or braking element is preferably flat in order to load the object as homogeneously as possible. Preferably, the holding and / or braking element has a region with a curved surface. In conjunction with a generally planar support surface or a correspondingly formed counter-holding and / or braking element, therefore, a side view of a V-shaped tapering entrance slit for the object or a portion thereof is formed.

The holding and / or braking element, especially for the alternative embodiment, preferably has a direction-dependent friction coefficient, whereby the friction in the feed direction, ie toward the stop, is smaller than the friction against the feed direction. This will cause a rebound on the stop and jumping back the object even further prevented. The holding and / or braking element has, for example, a surface with projections or bristles.

The holding and / or braking element is preferably directly or indirectly controllable in order to vary the friction between the object and the holding and / or braking element. As a result, depending on the requirements, the object can be displaced, for example, in the receiving element or clamped therein in such a way that it can absorb its momentum upon striking another object.

For positioning the transferred object in the receiving compartment, a positioning device is preferably present. This serves, for example, in the invention to bring an already adopted product in a position in which it is spaced from the stop. In the alternative embodiment and in the invention, the positioning device is used, for example, to move the product into a defined position for further processing, e.g. Pruning or onward transport, bring. By the positioning device, for example, a defined position of the product relative to the receiving unit can be realized, e.g. a certain distance to the stop. In another example, the entire receiving unit can be moved relative to a co-moving conveyor element, so that the product occupies a desired position relative to the conveying element and can be taken over by this in a well-controlled manner and further promoted.

The positioning device preferably comprises a mechanical control link, which acts on the product or on the receiving compartments. The positioning device can also be realized by a suitable shape of the orbit of the receiving compartments, for example, centrifugal force and / or gravity can be targeted in curved sections and / or sections with suspended conveying be used for positioning, optionally in conjunction with other stops and / or holding elements.

The principle according to the invention can be used in all devices in which products are fed at high speed to receiving units and thereby decelerated, that is to say, for example, when products are introduced into bags or opened products, e.g. in plug-in devices or cutting devices.

Fig. 1a-f

eine Aufnahmeeinheit in Form einer Tasche eines Einstecksystems in verschiedenen Schnittansichten und zeitlich geraffter Darstellung;

Fig. 1 g

eine Übersichtsdarstellung eines Einstecksystems;

Fig.2a-e

eine weitere Aufnahmeeinheit in Form einer Tasche einer Einstecksystems in verschiedenen Schnittansichten und zeitlich geraffter Darstellung;

Fig.3a-f

das Positionieren der aufgenommenen Gegenstände durch eine Positioniereinrichtung bei einer Tasche gemäss Fig. 1a-f oder 2a-e;

Fig. 4+5

eine weitere erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung mit Förderelementen in Form von Greifern und mit diesen mitbewegten Aufnahmeabteilen mit Halte- und/oder Bremselementen in verschiedenen Ansichten.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and described below. It shows purely schematically:

Fig. 1a-f

a receiving unit in the form of a pocket of a plug-in system in various sectional views and temporal geraffter representation;

Fig. 1 g

an overview of a plug-in system;

2a-e

a further receiving unit in the form of a pocket of a plug-in system in various sectional views and temporal ruffled representation;

3a-f

the positioning of the recorded objects by a positioning device in a pocket according to Fig. 1a-f or 2a-e ;

Fig. 4 + 5

a further device according to the invention with conveying elements in the form of grippers and these moving along receiving compartments with holding and / or braking elements in different views.

Fig. 1a-f show the sequence of the method steps based on a first example of an inventive device 1 on the basis of a known insertion drum 2 (see Fig. 1g ). The insertion drum 2 is rotatable about a longitudinal axis L and has a plurality of receiving units 10 in the form of pockets 12. The pockets 12 have two V-shaped mutually arranged support surfaces 13, 14 and a bottom pocket 15 which is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis L and acts as a stop , Articles 100, eg folded main printing products 101 or other folded or unfolded products 102, 103 are fed to the receiving units by different feed units 20, 21, 22 at predetermined transfer points S1, S2, S3. These are juxtaposed, but spaced apart in the axial direction of the drum 2. By a displacement mechanism, not shown here, the objects 100 are moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis L, while the drum 2 rotates. They therefore describe a spiral path U about the longitudinal axis L. By moving and rotating the drum, the main product 101, which is first introduced at the transfer point S1, passes by the transfer points S2, S3 for the further products 102, 103. Inserting or stacking creates a complex collection 104. This is removed at a removal station 30 and further promoted, for example by a gripper conveyor.

In Fig. 1a-f different sectional views of the pockets 12 are shown perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the drum 2. By only locally existing elements, such as the hold-open elements 16, 17 in Fig. 1c-e , opening or hold-open functions are realized. The cross sections therefore differ from each other; but it is the same bag 12. The views correspond to different stages during plugging.

Fig. 1a shows the bag 12 at the first transfer point S1. Here, the main product 101 is introduced with the folded edge 101 a ahead in the pocket 12. Along the drum section in which the transfer point S 1 is located, a first holding and / or braking element 40 is arranged within the pockets 12. It consists of a flexible strip of material which is applied in the manner of a leaf spring like a pillow on one of the lateral support walls 13 and is deformable relative to the support surface 13. He has a textured outer side 41, which is provided here with the bottom of the pocket 15 directed bristles. The smallest distance d between the outer side 41 (including the bristles) and the opposite support surface 14 is smaller than a typical product thickness b. The introduced product 101 therefore releases its kinetic energy by friction on the holding and / or braking element 40 at least partially to this and the other support surface 14 and reaches the stop 15 at reduced speed. The structured outer side 41 prevents the product 101 from rebounding from the stop and thereby being moved counter to the feed direction F. The product 101 is therefore after insertion at the bottom of the bag 15 ( Fig. 1b ).

Fig. 1c shows the cross section after moving the product 101 in the axial direction. There has been an opening process. In the area shown here, two hold-open elements 16, 17 are present in the form of a curved guide plate, each projecting like a collar into the pocket. Behind the hold-open elements 16, 17, the product 101 is positioned in the region of its two outer edges 101b, 101c. On the sides of the hold-open elements 16, 17, which face the support surfaces 13, 14, are second holding and / or braking elements 42, 43. These also consist of a flexible strip of material which is resilient against the corresponding hold-open element 16, 17.

The product 101 is thus resiliently pressed against the support surface 13, 14 in the region of its two outer edges 101b, 101c.

Between Fig. 1c and 1d a positioning device is used, which pushes the product 101 in the direction of the pocket opening (radial direction of the drum) to the outside. The positioning device comprises, for example, a stationary control link or peripheral means, over which the folded edge 101a slides and which displaces the product 101 relative to the receiving compartment 10. Alternatively, gravity can also be used to move the product 101, eg in the lower drum section. The fold 101a is therefore included Fig. 1d spaced from the stop 15. The second holding and / or braking elements 42, 43 serve to hold the product 101 in this position, ie open and spaced from the stop.

In Fig. 1d the situation is shown at the second feed S2. Another product 102, here consisting of two partial products, is introduced into the pocket 12 or the opened main product 101. It encounters the fold region of the main product 101 and thereby pushes the main product 101 downwards ( Fig. 1e ). Due to the transfer of momentum to the main product 101, the product 102 is braked.

Fig. 1f shows the situation at the removal station 30, in which no hold-open elements 16, 17 and holding and / or braking elements 40, 42, 43 act. The inserted and closed product 104 is removed, for example by means of grippers 32 and further promoted. Before the removal station 30, other supply steps according to Fig. 1c-e be performed.

Fig. 2a-e show a further example of a Einsteckvorgang and for the design of pockets 12, for example, a plug-in system, such as a Drum or a circulation system. A transverse transport as in Fig. La-g is not mandatory, but possible. As in Fig. 1a-f the pockets have two support surfaces 13, 14 and a bottom 15. On one of the support surfaces 13, a first holding and / or braking element 40 in the form of a bent leaf spring with a structured outer surface 41 is attached. Through a recess 18 in the support surface 13, the holding and / or braking element 40 can swing all the way to the support surface 13, so that the bag completely open and the holding and / or braking element 40 is ineffective. This movement can be actively controlled, here for example by a (not shown) control link, which cooperates with a control element 19 on the holding and / or braking element 40. As a result, the strength of the friction and therefore the braking effect is adjustable. In Fig. 2b-e the control element 19 is locked to the support surface 13.

At the opening of the bag 12 second brake and holding elements 50 are mounted in the form of small gripper that can be pivoted in the opposite direction in the pocket 12 in. For this purpose, for example, serves a (not shown) control link, which cooperates with a control element 51 on the brake and holding element 50. The braking and holding elements 50 serve on the one hand as hold-open elements and on the other hand for fixing an already recorded product in the pocket 12, so that it can absorb another product and slow it down by momentum transfer. The function is explained below:

In Fig. 2a is a Fig. 1a corresponding situation shown: The feed direction F is directed to the drum 1. The first holding and / or braking element 40 is pivoted into its active position, that is from the lateral support surface 13 and narrows the bag 12 in the ground near area. The product 101 was braked by the first holding and / or braking element 40 and is located on the bottom of the bag 15. The second brake and holding elements 50 are pivoted outwards and ineffective. In Fig. 2b The product was opened 101 and is now through inside pivoted second brake and holding elements 50 kept open. It is slightly pressed against the support surface 13, 14 by the second braking and holding elements 50, in particular their pillow-shaped flexible coverings 44. The first holding and / or braking element 40 is pivoted to its inactive position. Between Fig. 2b and 2c the product 101 is lifted off the compartment floor 15. For this purpose, the clamping action of the second braking and holding elements 50 may be slightly reduced. In Fig. 2c If another product 102 is introduced, it hits the folded main product 101 and takes it with it. Due to the momentum transfer both products are moved at a lower speed than the feed speed and hit the bottom of the bag ( Fig. 2d ). A portion of the kinetic energy transferred to the main product 101 dissipates on the second brake and holding elements 50. After the holding elements 50 have been pivoted away and the inserted products 101, 102 are closed, the product 104 can be removed (FIG. Fig. 2e ). Before removing, further insertion steps (moving away from the stop, holding on, inserting) can be carried out.

To assemble a more complex product, which consists of a folded main product and several other products with different weights, the following procedure is advantageous: sequential insertion of the other products in succession instead of a single insertion of a package from the other products. For sequential insertion, first the lighter and then the heavier products should be plugged in. Because at the same speed of delivery, the heavier products have a greater impetus and are better braked by the already adopted products, if they already have a larger mass.

Fig. 3a-f shows a possibility, such as a positioning device 60 for the receiving units 10 according to Fig. 1a-f can be trained. The trajectory U 'of the receiving units 10 is shown stretched, but could be any Have shape. The same principle applies to compartments Fig. 2a-e applicable. It is a simple guide slot 61, which has a guide surface and in a certain area of the orbit of the receiving units 10 acts on the folded edges 101a. The folded edges 101a slide on the guide surface of the link 61 and are thereby displaced relative to the pocket bottom 15. The products 101 protrude in the direction of the pocket bottom 15 beyond the receiving units 10 or bottom 15 and side surfaces 13, 14 have (not shown here) recesses into which the link 61, for example, meshingly engages. Circulating means, eg bands, are also possible.

4 and 5 show a further example of a device with the inventive holding and / or braking elements. The device essentially corresponds to the insertion device, as in the not previously published CH Application No. 00788/08 has been described. The purpose of the insertion device is the insertion of products 102, which may individually but also be a compilation of several products, into a folded main product 101. In this case, the main products 101 are brought by a gripper conveyor 80. During the insertion process, the gripper 81 is opened, but the product is not removed from it, but only additionally supported. After insertion, the combined product is conveyed by the same gripper 81, which is then closed again.

In the present case, the device is described only to the extent necessary to understand the invention underlying this application.

The device comprises a plurality of receiving units 90, which are moved substantially along a circular path about a rotation axis D. The device is based on a drive wheel 110, which consists of two partial wheels 110a, 110b each having a plurality of spokes 111. The partial gears 110a, 110b have a common axis, the axis of rotation D, are spaced from each other and are approximately mirror-inverted. The receiving units 90 are formed by the interaction of a plurality of mutually movable planar support members 91, 92. In each case two support elements 91, 92 are attached to the spokes 111 in each case a partial wheel 110a, 110b and can be pivoted about axes A1, A2, which run perpendicular to the spoke 111 (here perpendicular to the plane of the drawing or in the circumferential direction of the wheel 110). In Fig. 5 is shown by solid lines the state in which the support members 91, 92 are in their active position and support a product. Dashed lines show the inactive position of the support elements 91, 92. In Fig. 4 are the support members 91, 92 largely in their active position (counterclockwise from about "4 o'clock" to "1 o'clock") or are pivoted away from this ("1 o'clock" to "12 o'clock").

The further inside support elements 91 each comprise a planar support wall 93 and a U-shaped element 94 at the end remote from the pivot axis A1 end. By interaction of the two opposing support members 91, a receiving compartment 90 is temporarily realized. A product 100 is supported by the bottoms of the U-shaped members 94 and by the two support walls 93. An additional support and hold-open function is achieved by the further support elements 92.

The inner support members 91 also have holding and / or braking elements 45 in the form of a loop of an elastic material. The loop may also be severed at its apex to increase flexibility. The holding and / or braking elements 45 lie opposite the support wall 93 and are fixedly connected to the U-shaped element 94.

The inventive device 1 cooperates with a gripper conveyor 80. Its gripper 81 is moved along a closed circulation path U "which runs within the device 1 and in this region at least partially along a circular arc segment with the center D. The path of the gripper 81 is therefore at least partially parallel to the path of the receiving compartments 10, for example in FIG in Fig. 4 shown area.

The following explains the function:

Products 100, here folded main products 101 are conveyed by the gripper conveyor 80. While a product 101 is held by a gripper 81, the cooperating outer support elements 92 move between the product parts in the lower part of the movement path U ", which is not shown here, so they keep the product 101 open.The inner support elements 91 are pivoted in about the same time. The inner support elements 91 occupy a position in which their bottoms 95 have a predetermined distance from the gripped product edge 101 a (situation at approximately "3 o'clock"). In this position, the product 101 is opened and the upper product part lies on the outer one Supporting elements 92. The holding and / or braking elements 45 press the upper product part against the outer support elements 92. The gripper 81 is opened, gripper 81, receiving units 10 and product 101 are synchronously in this relative position by about 45 ° to the transfer point S. 1 further moved (at approximately "2 o'clock"). Another product 102 is inserted in the feed direction F, which is perpendicular to the bottom 95 and to the direction of movement of the receiving units 10. It pulls the already arranged in the receiving unit 10 and the open gripper 81 product 101 inside. By momentum transfer and to a lesser extent by friction between the holding and / or braking element 45, leading product part and support member 92, the new product 102 is braked. The folded edges of both products 101, 102 now come to rest on the bottom 95 acting as a stop (at about "1 o'clock").

The bottom 95 and thus the folded edge 101 a are here above the lowest point 82 of the gripper 81. This position does not necessarily correspond to the desired position of the edge to be gripped 101 a relative to the gripper 81. By backdrop-controlled lifting of the inner support members 91 relative to the gripper 81 (FIGS. between "2 o'clock" and "1 o'clock"), the products 101 are again positioned correctly relative to the gripper 81. The gripper 81 is then closed. The supporting elements 91, 92, which are no longer necessary for supporting, are pivoted upwards or downwards, so that the gripper conveyor 80 can be led out of the inner area between the two partial wheels 110a, 110b.

Claims (17)

1. A device (1) for taking over and further processing flexible, flat objects (100, 101, 102, 103), in particular printed products, at a take-over location (S1, S2, S3) from a feed unit (20, 21, 22), with at least one receiver unit (10, 12, 90), which can be moved along a closed revolving path, is capable of receiving an object (100, 101, 102, 103) at the take-over location (S1, S2, S3), and forms a stop (15, 95) for the object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over, characterised by at least one holding element and/or braking element (40, 42, 43, 45, 50), which is moved along with the receiver unit (10, 12, 90) and which is capable, at least in the region of the take-over location (S1, S2, S3), of holding an already taken over folded object (100, 101) in the receiver unit (10, 12, 90) in such a manner that the momentum of a further object (100, 102, 103) to be taken over can be transferred at least in part to the folded object (100, 101) already taken over, and the further obj ect (100, 102, 103) is thus slowed down before reaching the stop (15, 95).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the holding element and/or braking element (42, 43, 45, 50) is capable of holding the folded object already taken over in the receiver unit (10, 12, 90) in such a manner that the folding edge is at a distance from the stop (15, 95), that it forms a receiver for a further object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over, and that, upon impact of the further obj ect (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over, it is moved along with it.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a further holding element and/or braking element (40) is present, which is capable of at least partly absorbing and dissipating the kinetic energy of an object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over, by way of direct contact with the object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over.
4. A device according to claim 3, characterised in that the further holding element and/or braking element (40) is elastic or comprises an elastic region (44), in particular consists of a compressible material and/or comprises elasticity.
5. A device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the further holding element and/or braking element (40) together with the receiver unit (10, 12, 90) forms a tapering entry gap for the object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over, in particular by way of it having a curved outer surface (41).
6. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the receiver unit (10, 12, 90) is a pocket and/or is formed by way of the interaction of several separate support elements (91, 92).
7. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a positioning device (60), which is capable of displacing the taken-over object (100, 101, 102, 103) relative to the receiver unit (10, 12) and/or relative to a conveyor element (81) which is moved along with the receiver unit (10, 12).
8. A device for taking over or further processing printed products according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by

   - a plurality of conveyor elements (81) in the form of grippers, which are movable along a closed gripper conveyor path (U") and which are designed to receive a folded printed product (101) in a clamping manner;

   - a control device, in particular in the form of a cam control, which is designed to open the grippers (81) at an opening location situated ahead of the take-over location (S1, S2, S3) in the movement direction, and to close them at a closure location situated behind the take-over location (S1, S2, S3);

   - a plurality of receiver units (10, 12, 90), which are movable along a closed receiver unit revolving path and form a stop (15, 95) and a support surface for the fold edge (101a) or for one of the side surfaces of the folded printed product (101), wherein the receiver units (10, 12) are movable synchronously with the grippers (81), at least in the region of the take-over location (S1, S2, S3), in such a manner that printed products placed in the grippers (81) are positioned in the receiver units (10, 12, 90);

   - a plurality of holding elements and/or braking elements (42, 43, 45, 50), which are assigned to the receiver units (10, 12, 90) and are moved along with these, and which are capable of pressing one of the product parts against the receiver unit (10, 12, 90) so that the folded printed product forms a receiver for a further product (102, 103) and is distanced from the stop (15, 95), wherein the further product is slowed down by way of momentum transmission to the open, folded printed product (101).
9. A device according to claim 8, characterised by a positioning device (60), which is capable of displacing the receiver unit (10, 12) downstream from the take-over location (S1, S2, S3) relative to the assigned gripper (81), in particular in a direction running perpendicular to the gripper revolving path.
10. A device for taking over and further processing printed products according to any one of claims 1 - 7, characterised by

    - a plurality of receiver units (10, 12, 90) in the form of pockets, which are movable along a closed receiver unit revolving path, and which form a stop (15, 95) and at least one support surface for the fold edge (101a) or one of the side surfaces of the folded printed product (101);

    - a first feed unit (20) for feeding folded printed products (101) to a first take-over location (S1);

    - at least a second feed unit (21) for feeding further obj ects to a second take-over location (S2);

    - a plurality of holding elements and/or braking elements (42, 43, 44, 45), which are capable of holding a folded object (100, 101) taken over at the first take-over location (S1) in the take-over unit (10, 12, 90) in such a manner that the momentum of a further object (100, 102, 103) to be taken over can be transferred, at least in part, to the folded object (100, 101) already taken over, and the further object (100, 102, 103) to be taken over is thus slowed down before reaching the stop (15, 95).
11. A device according to claim 10, characterised by a positioning device (60), in particular in the form of a cam control, wherein the positioning device is capable of shifting the objects relative to the stop (15, 95) of the pocket, in particular in a direction running perpendicular to the movement direction of the pockets.
12. A method for taking over and further processing flexible, flat objects (100, 101, 102, 103), in particular printed products, with the following features:

    - moving at least one receiver unit (10, 12, 90), which forms a stop (15, 95) for the object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over, along a closed movement path past a take-over location (S2, S3);

    - holding a folded object by way of at least one holding element and/or braking element (42, 43, 45, 50), which is moved along with the receiver unit (10, 12, 90) at least in the region of the take-over location (S2, S3), in such a manner that the folded object forms a receiver for a further object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over;

    - introducing a further object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over into the folded obj ect;

    - slowing down the further object (100, 101, 102, 103) indirectly by way of the holding element and/or braking element (42, 43, 45, 50) before the object (100, 101, 102, 103) reaches the stop (15, 95), wherein the further object (100, 102, 103) to be taken over, by way of momentum transmission to the folded object (100, 101) already taken over, is moved along with it.
13. A method according to claim 12, characterised in that the folded object (100, 101, 102, 103) is slowed down by way of direct contact with a further holding element and/or braking element (40) in the region of a first take-over location (S1), which is arranged along the closed revolving path ahead of the take-over locations (S2, S3), and that the kinetic energy of the folded object is at least partly dissipated.
14. A method according to claim 12, characterised by the following steps:

    - introducing the folded object (100, 101, 102, 103) into the receiver unit (10, 12, 90) at a first take-over location (S1), which is arranged along the closed revolving path ahead of the take-over locations (S2), and holding the folded object by way of the holding element and/or braking element (42, 43, 45, 50), in such a manner that it forms a receiver for a further object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over;

    - introducing the further object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over at a feeding rate into the object already taken over at the second take-over locations (S2);

    - momentum transmission from the object to be taken over to the object already taken over and consequently combined shifting of both objects inside the receiver at a speed which is reduced with respect to the feeding rate.
15. A method according to claim 13, characterised by the following steps:

    - introducing the folded object (100, 101, 102, 103) into the receiver unit (10, 12, 90) at the first take-over location (S1) and holding the folded object by way of the holding element and/or braking element (40, 42, 43, 45, 50), in such a manner that it forms a receiver for the further object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over;

    - introducing the further object (100, 101, 102, 103) to be taken over at a feeding rate into the object already taken over at a second take-over locations (S2), which is situated after the first take-over location (S1) along the closed revolving path;

    - momentum transmission from the object to be taken over to the object already taken over and consequently combined shifting of both objects inside the receiver at a speed which is reduced with respect to the feeding rate.
16. A method according to any one of claims 12-15, characterised in that the position of the taken-over object (100, 101, 102, 103), in relation to the receiver unit and/or to a conveyor element (81) moved along with it, is adapted to a nominal position, in particular in order to bring the object (100, 101, 102, 103) into a defined position for the further processing.
17. A method according to any one of claims 12-16, wherein a folded object (100, 101, 102, 103) already taken over is shifted inside the receiver unit (10, 12, 90) prior to the introduction of a further object in such a manner that its folding edge is distanced from the stop.

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