Post-folder diverting apparatus using parallel drives

An apparatus for diverting a single stream of flat products, especially printed signatures, into two separate streams, comprising:

• a first conveyor drive guiding a first conveyor cable attached thereto along a first path;
• a second conveyor drive guiding a second conveyor cable attached thereto along a second path, a portion of the second path adjoining the first path;
• a plurality of first gripper blocks each having a gripper element attached thereto, each of the plurality of first gripper blocks being connected to the first conveyor cable;
• a plurality of second gripper blocks each having a gripper element attached thereto, each of the plurality of second gripper blocks being connected to the second conveyor cable;
• wherein each of the plurality of first gripper blocks includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first recess therethrough for receiving and connecting to the first conveyor cable, the second portion having a second recess therethrough to allow the second conveyor cable to pass therethrough to allow the second conveyor cable to move relative to the second recess;
• and
• wherein each of the plurality of second gripper blocks includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of each second gripper block having a third recess therethrough for receiving and mounting to the second conveyor cable, the second portion of each second gripper block having a fourth recess to allow the first conveyor cable to pass therethrough and to allow the first conveyor cable to move relative to the fourth recess.

A method for diverting a single stream of flat products, especially printed signatures, into two separate streams, comprising the steps of:

• (a) gripping a first product with a first gripper element attached to a first gripper block mounted to a second conveyor cable;
• (b) gripping a second product with a second gripper element attached to a second gripper block mounted to a second conveyor cable;
• (c) guiding the first and second conveyor cables along the common path for a first duration and along the separate paths for the second duration;
• and
• (d) transporting each of the first and second products along the common path for the first duration and along the separate paths for the second duration,
• wherein the first gripper block includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the first gripper block having a first recess therethrough for receiving and connecting to the first conveyor cable, the second portion of the first gripper block having a second recess therethrough to allow the second conveyor cable to pass therethrough to allow the second conveyor cable to move relative to the second recess, and the second gripper block includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the second gripper block having a third recess therethrough for receiving and mounting to the second conveyor cable, the second portion of the second gripper block having a fourth recess to allow the first conveyor cable to pass therethrough and to allow the first conveyor cable to move relative to the fourth recess.