Method for operating a transport system

A method to transport printed products composed of printed sheets or signatures, comprising:

• producing printing products with the use of a printing press;
• transporting the printed products with at least one first conveying belt operative downstream of the printing press along a conveying path;
• dividing the conveying path into at least two individually operating conveying paths at a branching location downstream from the at least one first conveying belt;
• folding the respective printed products with a continuously operating folding device located at the end of each of the at least two individually operating conveying paths;
• transferring the folded printed products from the folding devices in a straddling position to corresponding intermediate gathering devices;
• transferring the straddling folded printed products from the intermediate gathering devices to a main conveying section in a serial, monotonous, intermittent, synchronous or non-synchronous sequence for further transport;
• and
• operating the at least two individually operating conveying paths at speeds that are lower than a speed of the at least one first conveying belt which operates upstream of the branching location, and at different speeds relative to each other.