A method for transporting at least two successive articles, the method which comprises the following steps:
- stipulating a minimum direction reversal gap length;
- placing two articles into sequence with one article forming a leading article and another article forming a trailing article, and with a first gap forming between the two articles;
- transporting the two articles to a direction reversal device such that the first gap between the two articles is greater than or equal to the minimum direction reversal gap length, at least when the leading article reaches the direction reversal device;
- transporting the two articles with the direction reversal device over a stipulated transport path in a transport direction and, subsequently, over the same transport path in an opposite transport direction;
- wherein the direction reversal device:
- first transports the leading article in the transport direction and then in the opposite transport direction;
- and
- subsequently transports the trailing article first in the transport direction and then in the opposite transport direction;
- and
- temporarily seizing the leading article solely by the direction reversal device and, subsequently temporarily seizing the trailing article solely by the direction reversal device;
- transporting the two articles away from the direction reversal device such that a second gap occurs between the leading article and the trailing article;
- and
- measuring a length of the leading article as a dimension of the article, as seen in the transport direction, and using the dimension for transporting the leading article,
- stipulating a standard maximum length for an article to be transported;
- if the measured length of the leading article is greater than the stipulated standard maximum length, carrying out the following steps:
- forming the first gap greater than the stipulated minimum direction reversal gap length by a amount of a gap length supplement at the latest when the leading article reaches the direction reversal device;
- the gap length supplement being greater than or equal to a difference between the measured length of the leading article and the standard maximum length;
- transporting the leading article with the direction reversal device, during transport in the transport direction, over an entire transport path and, subsequently, over an additional transport route following the transport path;
- and
- transporting the leading article, during transport in the opposite transport direction with the direction reversal device, over the additional transport route and subsequently over the entire transport path;
- and,
- if the measured length is smaller than or equal to the standard maximum length:
- terminating a transport of the leading article in the transport direction and commencing a subsequent transport in the opposite transport direction with the direction reversal device, no later than when the leading article has been transported over the entire transport path.