Method and apparatus for transporting flat products

An apparatus for transporting a flat product, comprising:

• a transport gap which is formed by conveying elements which are moved in a transport direction and lie opposite one another, wherein the flat product is supplied to the transport gap which is delimited on at least one side by at least one stationary guide plate in a region of an end of the transport gap which is assigned to a paddle wheel which forwards the flat product and is moved transversely with respect thereto;
• wherein the transport gap is assigned air nozzles which act on the flat product coming out of the transport gap, wherein the air nozzles have a jet direction which is substantially parallel to a transport plane and points in the transport direction, and wherein a compressed air source coupled to the air nozzles via a supply line supplies compressed air to the air nozzles and wherein compressed air from the air nozzles has a higher speed in the transport direction than a transport speed of the flat product such that the flat product is accelerated by the compressed air.