Method and device for transforming a supply stream of flat stream elements, in particular a supply stream in which the elements are conveyed overlapping one another

A device for transforming a supply stream (2), in which stream elements (1) each having two substantially parallel principal surfaces and each comprising one flat object or a group of flat objects lying on top of one another, are conveyed in a conveying direction (F), wherein the principal surfaces of the stream elements (1) are oriented essentially parallel to the conveying direction (F), the device comprising:

• a plurality of clamping elements (5, 5.1, 5.2) for gripping the stream elements of the supply stream (2) in a clamping manner, the clamping elements (5, 5.1, 5.2) being arranged on conveying means equipped for conveying the clamping elements in the conveying direction (F) one behind the other through-a transformation zone at a speed that is similar to a speed of the supply stream (2) and at a spacing that is similar to an element spacing in the supply stream (2), and
• control means acting on the clamping elements (5, 5.1, 5.2) during conveyance in the conveying direction, by activating the clamping elements, by displacing successive clamping elements transverse to the conveying direction (F) in a predefined sequence, and by de-activating the clamping elements.