Device for carrying out cutting operations on open format edges of a printed product

A device for carrying out cutting operations at cutting locations on at least one open format edge of at least one printed product in the form of a book block, the device being operatively connectable to a printed product-based removal apparatus which is configured to operate on the printed product after a third cutting operation, the device comprising:

• at least one cutting apparatus configured to carry out each of the first cutting operation at a first cutting location for cutting a first format edge of the printed product, a second cutting operation at a second cutting location for cutting a second format edge of the printed product, and the third cutting operation at a third cutting location for cutting a third format edge of the printed product,
• at least one transport unit for transferring the printed product in a suspended manner from at least one of the first cutting location to the second cutting location and the second cutting location to the third cutting location, the transport unit comprising two supports that each have a gripper, the gripper being configured to grip the printed product by its spine in the suspended manner, the two supports being operatively interconnected, and the two supports being configured to be operable by the following controller-assisted translational movements with respect to the cutting locations:
• a) a first gripper of a first support takes the printed product once the first cutting operation is complete at the first cutting location;
• b) the first support then travels together with the printed product to the second cutting location, where it positions the printed product for the second cutting operation to be carried out, and then travels back empty to the first cutting location to take a new printed product subsequently brought and already processed at the first cutting location;
• c) during at least a portion of operation (a) and/or (b), a second support takes the printed product after completing the second cutting operation at the second cutting location, and transfers the printed product to the third cutting location, where the third cutting operation takes place;
• and
• d) the second support then returns empty to the second cutting location, where the new printed product is then present, after which the second support travels, together with the new printed product, to the third cutting location at which the third cutting operation is performable, and
• a feed apparatus that is the form of a multi-part insertion wheel, which is operable according to the following criteria:
• a) during a first 90° rotation of the insertion wheel, a hinged rake-like guide performs a pivot movement against the book block in such a manner that, following the 90° rotation, the book block is positioned on the spine, whereby it is protected against fanning out and/or tipping over;
• b) the insertion wheel then rotates further by two 90° cycles in each case, whereby the book block is transferable into a now suspended position with respect to the cutting locations;
• and
• c) during this latter rotational movement, the first rake-like guide and an operatively connected second guide are pivoted away from the book block, the book block being held in the region of at least a part of its spine by a clamping assembly, while the part of the book block released by the guides hangs vertically downwards as a result of gravity alone, and
• a movable clamping apparatus operatively connected to the feed apparatus,
• wherein the movable clamping apparatus is adjacent to the first cutting location, comprising clamping plates, and is configured to take the printed product from the feed apparatus to the first cutting location.