Apparatus and method for the post-processing of sequentially printed sheets

A method for post-processing of successively following, sequentially printed sheets, comprising:

• transporting by a conveyor the successively following, sequentially printed sheets in a conveying direction to a folding table arranged in a downstream region of the conveyor;
• depositing the transported printed sheets on the folding table;
• operating jointly for folding the printed sheets a folding sword positioned at a vertical distance to the folding table and a folding roller pair with an in-between formed folding gap positioned on a side of the folding table that is located opposite the folding sword, wherein the folding sword is stationary and includes at least one outlet opening for blowing compressed air;
• pressing down a back edge of a preceding printed sheet to be positioned on the folding table with at least one pressing-down mechanism in a direction of the folding table for braking the preceding printed sheet, wherein the pressing down mechanism includes a mechanical braking element making contact with a top side of the preceding printed sheet in a region of a back edge of the preceding printed sheet;
• supplying a following printed sheet with a front edge of the following printed sheet raised up, relative to the back edge of the preceding printed sheet positioned on the folding table;
• controlling the pressing-down mechanism and the folding sword via a machine control;
• gathering at least two successively following printed sheets on a gathering device of the folding table to form a joint stack;
• folding the joint stack into a print product by compressed air from a first compressed-air source blown onto the joint stack through the at least one outlet opening in the stationary folding sword;
• detecting a printed sheet transported with the conveyor by a sensor which is operatively connected to the machine control;
• computing with the machine control corresponding control signals based on information obtained from the sensor for pressing down the back edge of the preceding printed sheet with the pressing down mechanism for braking the printed sheet by the mechanical braking element and for triggering activation of the folding sword for carrying out the folding step;
• and
• triggering the pressing down, braking, and folding with the control signals.