Apparatus for processing printed products

A method of simultaneously producing different printed products by bringing together component printed products being fed in, comprising the steps of:

• (a) arranging a plurality of holding elements one after another and moveable along a circulation path in a circulation direction, each of said holding elements having a supporting element for supporting printed product laterally, a base element for supporting printed products from below and a straddle supporting element for supporting printed products astride:
• (b) arranging a plurality of feed stations adjacent said path and positioned for feeding printed products to the holding elements while said holding elements are moved past the feed stations, each of said feed stations including a plurality of clamps movable in approximately the same direction and at approximately the same speed as the holding elements, each of said clamps being adapted to receive a printed product, rotate the printed product about an axis extending parallel to a radial direction with respect to the circulation path and transferring the printed product to a holding element, at least one of said feed stations having a selectively operable opening device for optionally opening folded printed products, said at least one feed station being capable of feeding printed products into a holding element or depositing folded printed products which have been opened onto respective straddle support elements;
• (c) arranging a first output station and a second output station along said path with, as seen in the circulation direction, at least two of said feed stations arranged along said path between said first and second output stations and at least two of said feed stations arranged along said path between said second and first output stations, at least one of said first and second output stations being independently controlled whereby it can be selectively inactivated;
• and
• (d) feeding printed products from one or more of said feed stations selectively onto a supporting element, a base element or a straddle support element in each of said holding elements and, where a printed product is being fed onto a straddle support element, opening a folded printed product before it is deposited astride said straddle support element.