Conveying device for collecting and transporting printed sheets placed astraddle on a first chain conveyer

A conveying device for collecting and transporting printed sheets, the conveying device comprising:

• a first chain conveyor on which the printed sheets are placed astraddle and conveyed in a conveying direction;
• a second chain conveyor arranged downstream of the first chain conveyor in the conveying direction and synchronized with the first chain conveyor;
• an intermediate conveying device arranged between the first and second chain conveyors and configured to grip intermediate products comprised of collected printed sheets formed at the end of a collecting process on the first chain conveyor and to transport and transfer the intermediate products onto the second chain conveyor;
• wherein the intermediate conveying device comprises a circulating traction mechanism and controllable grippers connected to the traction mechanism;
• wherein the controllable grippers are configured to grip a fold of the intermediate products lifted off the first chain conveyor and to transport the intermediate products in an open position to the second chain conveyor.