Method and apparatus for forming multi-sheet printed products, especially newspapers and magazines

An apparatus for forming multi-sheet printed products, especially newspapers, magazines and periodicals, comprising:

• a support device for supporting at spaced support locations at least one first zig-zag folded web constituted by printed sheets interconnected with one another at fold lines extending transversely with respect to the lengthwise direction of the web;
• said support device supporting said first web at predetermined fold lines thereof;
• means for laying upon said supported first web and concurrently while said first web is supported at said predetermined fold lines substantially in a zig-zag form at least one further zig-zag folded web constituted by printed sheets interconnected with one another at fold lines extending transversely with respect to the lengthwise direction of the web;
• the fold lines of said at least one further web being in alignment with the fold lines of said first web;
• and
• said support device supporting said at least one further web at predetermined fold lines at said spaced support locations.

An apparatus for forming multi-sheet printed products, especially newspapers and magazines, comprising:

• a support device for supporting at spaced support locations at least two substantially zig-zag folded, mutually aligned and superimposed webs;
• each of said webs being formed by sheets interconnected with one another at fold locations extending transversely with respect to the web lengthwise direction;
• said support device supporting the webs at predetermined fold locations;
• said support device comprising individual support elements arranged in spaced relationship;
• said webs bearing upon said support elements at said predetermined fold locations;
• said support device further comprising a revolving driven drum member having an axis of rotation;
• said support elements being arranged at the circumference of said drum member;
• said drum member possessing at least two infeed portions for the individual webs and a removal portion for the superimposed webs;
• said infeed portions and said removal portion being offset with respect to one another in the direction of the axis of rotation of said drum member;
• and
• said webs being guided in a substantially helical-shaped path of travel about said drum member.

A method of forming multi-sheet printed products, especially newspapers and magazines, comprising the steps of:

• placing in superimposed aligned fashion on top of one another at least two substantially zig-zag folded webs;
• each of said webs being constituted by sheets which are interconnected with one another at fold locations extending transversely with respect to the web lengthwise direction;
• supporting the webs at the fold locations at spaced locations;
• and
• guiding the webs, as they are placed in superimposed fashion on top of one another, along an essentially helical-shaped path of travel.