Abstract:
The invention relates to a processing device for processing printed products, in particular for collecting individual printed sheets for manufacturing an assembled printed product. The device includes a drum rotatable about a rotation axis and at least two feed stations arranged distanced from one another in the direction of the rotation axis, for feeding printed products, and at least one lead-away station for leading away processed printed products. The drum includes several guides, in particular saddle-like rests or conveyor compartments which are arranged in succession in the peripheral direction of the drum and are movable along a closed revolving path, as well as advance elements controlled by a control unit, for displacing the printed products in the direction of the rotation axis. For increasing the flexibility, the device is composed of modules.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention lies in the field of processing and conveying printed products, and relates to a modular processing device, in particular to a so-called collector-stapler drum which for example is applied for manufacturing an assembled printed product by way of collecting individual printed sheets and subsequent stapling. The invention further relates to a construction kit for the construction of such a processing device. 
     The invention is based on processing drums, as are basically known e.g. from EP-A 0 341 425 or EP-A 0 550 828. A modular processing device is known from EP-A 0 341 425. The known devices serve for manufacturing a printed product assembled of folded printed sheets, e.g. a newspaper, brochure or magazine, and comprise a drum rotatable about a rotation axis, and at least two feed stations which are arranged distanced from one another in the direction of the rotation axis, for feeding the printed sheets, as well as a stapling and lead-away station for stapling and leading away the collected printed sheets. The drum comprises a drum shaft and several saddle-like rests, which delimit pocket-like receiver parts, and are arranged one after the other in the peripheral direction of the drum shaft and are able to be moved along a closed revolving path by way of rotation of the drum. The printed sheets coming from the feed stations are placed astride onto these rests. During a rotation of the drum, a printed sheet is transported along in each case one rest, i.e. in the direction of the rotation axis, from one feed station to the next feed station, where a further printed sheet is placed astride onto it. The printed sheets, thus, describe an essentially spiral-like path around the drum. The finished product is removed and conveyed away by a lead-away station arranged in an end region of the drum. Optionally, a stapling assembly may be arranged in front of the lead-away station, in order to staple together the individual sheets. Advance elements which revolve with the rests, serve for the transport of the deposited printed sheets in the axial direction, wherein, for example, one or more advance elements are allocated to each rest. The advance elements are periodically controlled such that they firmly clamp the printed sheet halves of the printed sheets, which are deposited onto the rests, against the rests, displace them in the axial direction during a forward travel, let go of them again, and return back into their initial position without gripping a printed product. A control unit which typically comprises a control link cooperating with the advance elements and effecting the forwards travel and backwards travel of the advance elements during the rotation of the drum, is provided for controlling the advance elements. 
     With such collecting devices, the number of the feed stations as a rule is set in a fixed manner and is limited by the length of the drum. A later extension of the device by further feed stations is not possible. It has already been mentioned in EP-A 0 341 425 that the collection drums can be composed of sections, in order to provide a collection drum with the suitable length, depending on the number of operations carried out. A basic section should, for example, have the width of three processing stations—two in-conveyors and two out-conveyors. Further sections should have the width of one or two feed stations. Further details with regard to the design of the modules and with regard to the type of coupling may, however, not be deduced from EP-A 0 341 425. 
     Since such collection drums have a length of several meters, it is important for the drum shaft to be stable with regard to any sagging. Moreover, the drum should have a certain twist rigidity, so that the rests remain straight and the products are capable of being led precisely in the axial direction. With a drum constructed in a modular manner, increased demands with regard to the stability exist, particularly at the interface locations between two modules. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to further develop the concept known from EP-A 0 341 425. In particular, a modularly constructed processing device for printed products is to be provided, which is simple with regard to design and meets the increased stability requirements. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object is achieved by a modular processing device with a drum rotatable about a rotation axis, at least two feed stations arranged distanced from one another in the direction of the rotation axis, for feeding printed products; and at least one lead-away station for leading away processed printed products. The drum comprises several guides, which are arranged, one after another, in the peripheral direction of the drum and are movable along a closed revolving path. The drum further comprises advance elements controllable by a control unit, for displacing the printed products in the direction of the rotation axis. According to the invention, the device comprises at least two modules, wherein the modules comprise a base body rotatable about the rotation axis, guide sections and advance elements arranged on said base body, and support elements arranged in axial end regions of the base body projecting from the base body perpendicularly to the rotation axis, wherein the support elements are configured such that two support elements of adjacent modules are coupled or may be coupled to one another. 
     The object is further achieved by a construction kit for the construction of such a modular processing device, including at least two modules as described above. 
     The processing device which is basically constructed as previously described, according to the invention is constructed of several modules which may be manufactured independently of one another and are coupled or may be coupled to one another in the axial direction. The modules can be considered as functionally and mechanically autonomous/independent units that can be combined almost arbitrarily in the manner of a unit assembly system to form the processing device. The modules comprise the necessary components for supporting and advancing the products, and preferably also comprise the feed and/or lead-away stations, or are adapted to be coupled therewith after assembly of the drum. 
     The modules, in each case, include a base body which gives the module the required stability. In particular, several base bodies are coupled together and constitute the drum shaft of the complete device. The base body e.g. has the shape of a tube or cylinder and is preferably rotationally symmetrical. Guide sections, e.g. in the form of saddle-like rests for receiving folded products and/or pockets for the insertion of folded or unfolded products, are arranged on the base body. The guide sections form the initially described guides of the assembled device. The guide sections are arranged one after the other in the peripheral direction of the base body, and are moved along a closed revolving path on rotation of the base body. Moreover, each module comprises advance elements, with which the products may be displaced in the axial direction over a certain distance. Preferably, the stroke of the advance elements is such that the products are moved at least from one feed station to the next, so that the products describe a spiral-like path or similar path, winding around the drum. The advance elements, for example, have the form of carriages provided with one or more clamping elements, as described in EP-A 0 341 425. The advance elements of two or more modules, in an assembled device, are preferably coupled or may be coupled to one another such that they may be controlled with a common control device. The control device is preferably spatially assigned to one of the modules. 
     According to the invention, the base body in its axial end regions as seen in the axial direction, has support elements which project outwards perpendicularly to the rotation axis. These support elements are in each case directly or indirectly coupled or able to be coupled to a support element of an adjacent module. Since they project radially outwards beyond the outer surface of the base body, they improve the stability of the base bodies of the modular device when coupled to one another, with regard to the bending rigidity as well as the twist rigidity. This is particularly the case if two support elements are directly adjacent one another and are rigidly connected to one another. 
     In a further preferred variant of the invention, the support elements have the shape of a disk or flange or wheel. In particular, this disk or flange or wheel has a radius which is significantly larger than the radius of the base body, e.g. more than double the size. Apart from the stabilisation of the drum shaft against sagging and twisting, the support elements in a further advantageous formation of the invention serve for anchoring the guide sections, i.e. the rests or pockets or their sections, which run in the axial direction. The radius of the support elements may therefore correspond to the radius of the base body plus the width of the support elements measured in the radial direction, which increases the stability. For this, the support elements are advantageously formed as spoke wheels, so that the products may be led from one module to the next between the spokes without any hindrance. The guide sections thereby are arranged on their respective base body and in each case two modules are connected to one another, such that in each case two guide surfaces are in alignment with one another. The guide sections together with the support wheels, form a guide surface which is continuous in the axial direction, along which the products are guided. An additional coupling element for coupling the guide sections per se is therefore not absolutely necessary, but is possible. 
     The support elements of all modules are preferably essentially equal with regard to construction, so that interfaces which are essentially equal with regard to their construction are formed. Also two types of interfaces may be provided, which fit together according to the key-lock principle. A particularly large degree of flexibility, as well as a simple design, is achieved by way of this. 
     In a preferred variant of the invention, at least two different base modules are present, which are applied as end-pieces of the device. The first module comprises a control device in addition to the already described features. This control device serves for controlling the advance elements of at least two modules, which are coupled to one another in a suitable manner. A second module in addition to the features described above, includes a stapling and lead-away station, or may be coupled to such a station. All modules may also include feed stations or may be coupled thereto. Alternatively or additionally, feed stations may be arranged on further modules. Such intermediate modules are basically constructed as previously described and may be arranged between the first and the second module, which is why they have two interfaces. 
     Preferably, all modules have the same length or a length which corresponds to a uniform length or a multiple thereof. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the stability of the complete device is additionally improved by way of holding devices, e.g. in the form of support belts, which support the drum assembled from the modules, from below, and in particular are arranged at the interfaces between two modules. By way of a suitable control of the advance elements, one ensures that the paths of the products do not run in those regions in which the holding device supports the drum. Product holding devices may be located offset from the holding devices for the drum in the axial direction and e.g. may likewise be designed as support belts. They prevent the products from falling out in the lower regions of the movement path of the guides. It is not necessary for the product holding devices to accommodate the weight of the actual drum; they may therefore be designed in a relatively lightweight manner, and have a simple design. 
     The construction kit according to the invention serves for the construction of a modular processing device for processing printed products, in particular of a collector stapler (stitcher) drum as is described in EP-A 0 341 425 or EP-A 0 550 828. It includes modules of the type mentioned above, which may be coupled to one another with an improved stability. 
     The invention has the advantage that individual modules may be manufactured, stored and transported, instead of a single-piece, long processing drum. By way of this, it becomes possible to simplify the delivery and to shorten the assembly times at the location of application. Moreover, the storage is simplified, since from now on, one only needs to have individual modules available, which may be flexibly combined into differently configured devices, instead of different variants of the device. Well defined interfaces of the individual modules allow combination of each module with any other one by a simple mechanical operation, and without the need to modify the components after putting together the modules (except, possibly, for mounting stations like the feed/lead-away stations). No long parts have to be handled and stabilised. Finally, an extension or supplementing of an existing processing drum is simply possible. The flexibility is also increased by way of arranging a module with an additional lead-away station with a stapling function, between two existing modules. This variant permits a parallel operation of the processing device in individual modules or groups of modules. 
     Instead of being collected, i.e. being applied astride on one another in the folded condition, the device may serve for collating the sheets or inserting them into one another. Mixed forms of these processing processes are also possible. The device may for example also be an insert drum. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Examples of the invention are presented in the drawings and are described hereinafter. In a purely schematic manner, there are shown in: 
         FIG. 1  an overview representation of the processing device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  a processing device which is constructed of three modules; 
         FIG. 3   a - d  different views of a module or the interface between two modules; 
         FIG. 4  different examples of a modular processing device and individual modules; 
         FIG. 5  a lateral view of the processing device in the direction of the rotation axis, for representing a lead-away station with a stapling assembly; 
         FIG. 6  different examples for modular processing devices with one or two lead-away stations, in each case with a stapling assembly; 
         FIG. 7  a lateral view of the processing device in the direction of the rotation axis, for representing an alternative lead-away station. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The device for processing printed products  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , with regard to its basic construction or its basic function, corresponds to the device shown in EP-A 0 550 848 in FIG. 1. Differences exist in the inventive modular form of the processing drum  12 , as well as in the holding devices  42  for the drum. For this reason, this document is supplementarily referred to with regard to the exact design and function of the device  1  and its elements. 
     The device  1  comprises an elongate processing drum  12 , which is rotatably mounted about its horizontal axis  14  and is driven in the rotation axis D by way of a drive motor  16 . A multitude of lamella-like wall elements or guides  22 , which extend over the complete processing-active length of the processing drum  12  and, seen in the peripheral direction, are uniformly distributed, and are fasted on the drum shaft  20  which is rotatably mounted on a machine frame  18 . As is described further below and is shown in  FIGS. 3   b ,  3   c , the guides  22  in their radial end regions comprise saddle-like rests  24  which run parallel to the axis  14 . In each case, two adjacent guides  22  delimit a pocket-like receiver part  26 , into which advance elements  44  which are not shown in  FIG. 1  (see  FIGS. 3   b+c ) project, in order to advance the printed products  10  deposited astride onto the rests  24 , or the printed products  10 ′ introduced into the receiver parts  26 , along the rests  24  or guides  22  respectively in steps in the advance direction V. The advance elements, in the course of one revolution of the processing drum  12 , and controlled by a control device  28 , e.g. a link control, in each case execute a working travel (displacement) in the advance direction V, and thereby take with them the printed products  10 ,  10 ′ by one step, and a return travel opposite to the advance direction V without at the same time influencing the printed products  10 ,  10 ′. 
     Twelve feed stations  30  are arranged next to one another along the processing drum. Seen in the advance direction V, a lead-away station  32  is arranged after these feed stations  30 . The feed stations  30  here are designed to feed folded printed products  10  to the processing drum  12  and to deposit them astride on their rests  24  or onto printed products already deposited onto these, in the known way and manner. In the present case, products  10  intermediately stored on a roll  126  are wound off and are supplied in a manner known per se by way of a transfer device  134  of the known construction type. The feed stations  30  could however also be designed such that they insert folded or unfolded printed products into the receiver parts  26 . Here, such printed products  10 ′ are optionally fed by way of further feed stations in the form of a conveyor belt  144  or a feeder  146 . The lead-away station  32  is provided for taking over the printed products  10 ,  10 ′ processed into a finished product, from the processing drum  12 , and leading them away, e.g. by way of a gripper conveyor  140 . 
     The processing drum  12  may be divided functionally into drum sections  34 . 1 ,  34 . 2 , . . . ,  34 . 7  of equal width, which are directly successive in the axial direction, wherein this width may be slightly smaller than the working travel of the advance elements, but corresponds to a step by which the printed products  10 ,  10 ′ are advanced in each case. The control device  28  for the advance elements is provided in the region of a drum section which is indicated at  34 . 1  and which is the first one seen in the advance direction V. A first feed station  30  is assigned to the adjacent drum section  34 . 2  which follows next in the advance direction V. In the shown embodiment example, apart from an axial conveying, no processing of the printed products  10  supplied in the second drum section  34 . 2  takes place in the next drum section  34 . 3 , and in the further sections, further printed products  10  are deposited astride onto the printed products  10  which have already been deposited onto the rests  24 . Other types of processing stations may also be assigned to the drum sections  34 , as is shown in  FIG. 1  by way of a device  36  for introducing printed products  10 ′ (attachments), a schematically indicated device  38  for gluing attachments onto the respective printed products  10 , and a likewise schematically indicated stapling device  40  for stapling together the collected printed products  10 . 
     According to the invention, the device  1  is physically divided into individual modules  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3 , . . . ,  1 . 6 , which are manufactured individually and are assembled into the complete device. As shown in the  FIGS. 2 ,  3   a ,  3   d ,  4  and  5 , the modules first and foremost are formed by a segmentation of the drum  12 . The boundaries between the modules are indicated here by way of unbroken lines. A module  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3 , . . . ,  1 . 6  in particular has a multiple of the width of a drum section  34 ,  34 . 1 , . . . ,  34 . 7 . The shape of the interfaces between the modules  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3 , . . . ,  1 . 6  amongst other things, is described with reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3   a - d.    
     Preferably, the device  1  comprises holding devices  42 ,  43 , which grip around the processing drum  12  from below roughly in the region of its lower halves. Drum holding devices  42  serving to stabilise the drum  12  are in particular arranged at the connection locations of two modules  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3 , . . . ,  1 . 6 . Product holding devices  43  are arranged distanced thereto in the axial direction, and these prevent the printed products  10 ,  10 ′ from falling down from the rests  24  or out of the receiver parts  26 , when, together with the rests  24  and receiver parts  26 , they run through the lower half of the revolving path about the axis  14 . In each case, only one drum holding device  42  and product holding device  43  is indicated in  FIG. 1 , for the purpose of a better overview. 
     The manner of functioning of the device shown in  FIG. 1  is described below. The conveyors  58  of the feed station  30  which is the first one seen in the advance direction V, supply a printed product  10  in the feed section  34 . 2  of each rest  24 , so that this printed product comes to lie astride on the rest  24 . The deposited printed products  10  maintain their position with respect to the rests  24  on rotation of the processing drum  12  in the rotation direction D, until the advance elements  44  in each case execute a working travel. This is effected in the rear upper quadrant of the processing drum  12  which is not visible in  FIG. 1 . Thereby, the printed products  10  get into the drum section  34 . 3  where no processing is effected. In the course of the next revolution, the printed products  10  are led from this feed section  34 . 3  to the feed section  34 . 4 , where now a further printed product  10  is deposited astride onto each printed product  10  by the respective conveyer  58 . These two printed products  10  which are deposited on one another, in the course of three further revolutions of the processing drum  12 , are moved step-by step to the feed section assigned to the feed station  30  which follows next, where again a further printed product  10  is deposited astride thereon. The printed products  10  in this manner are moved step-by-step, in the course of each revolution, to a subsequent drum section  34 , where a further processing of the printed products  10  may or may not take place. The finished products are taken over by the gripper conveyor  140  and led away when the finished, processed printed products  10  reach the feed section  34 . 7  at the end of the processing drum  12 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a processing drum  12  constructed of three individual modules  11 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3 .  FIG. 3   a - d  show detailed views of this processing drum or its modules;  FIG. 3   a  shows a view of an end region of the module  1 . 2 , which is partly sectioned along the rotation axis  14 , for the representation of the interface;  FIG. 3   b  shows a front view onto such an interface or onto the support element  50 ;  FIG. 3   c  shows a section perpendicular to the rotation axis  14  on the remote side of the support element for representing the support elements  22 , and  FIG. 3   d  shows the border region of two modules  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2  coupled to one another. 
     According to  FIG. 2 , the drum shaft  20  which is of one piece with EP-A 0 550 828, according to the invention, is subdivided into at least three sections  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ,  20 . 3 . These tubular drum shaft sections correspond to the base body of a module  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3 . The modules may yet comprise one or more feed stations or lead-away stations, which are not shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3   a - d.    
     Here, the modules  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3  each have the same length L. The base bodies  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ,  20 . 3  here are further subdivided, and specifically in each case into three segments  21  which are coupled to one another and which preferably have a uniform length l. The module length L corresponds to a threefold of the length of the tube segments  21  plus the length of a coupling piece  55 ′. L for example corresponds to the width of four or six sections  34 . Also, only two segments  21  may be connected to one another, to manufacture a module of a shorter length (see e.g. module  1 . 4  in  FIG. 4 ). 
     According to the invention, the base bodies  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ,  20 . 3  at their axial end regions comprise support elements  50  projecting radially outwards from the rotation axis  14  beyond the base bodies  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ,  20 . 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3   a , the radius r 2  of the support element  50  is significantly larger, preferably 1.5-times to 3-times larger, than the radius r 1  of the base body. The support elements  50 , for example, have the form of spoked wheels  52 , as is shown in more detail in  FIG. 3   b . The support elements  50  have a front surface  53  which runs perpendicularly to the rotation axis  14  (see  FIGS. 3   a+b ), and which terminates in the axial direction flush with the base body (not shown here) or projects beyond this ( FIG. 3   a ), so that in each case two front surfaces  53  bear on one another and may be directly connected to one another, e.g. screwed, when in use. The connection locations  56  of two support elements  50 , indicated by bores in  FIGS. 3   b  and  3   d , preferably lie outside the radius r 1  in the radially outwardly lying regions of the support element  50 , for increasing the twist rigidity. 
     The support elements  50  are rigidly connected to the end regions of the base bodies  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ,  20 . 3  by way of suitable coupling elements  55 . Since the support elements  50  here project beyond the base bodies  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ,  20 . 3  in the axial direction, in each case a further coupling piece  55 ′ ( FIG. 3   d ) which is rigidly connected to the coupling elements  55  and here has the shape of a tube piece with roughly the same radius as the base bodies  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ,  20 . 3  as well as a flange projecting outwards in the axial direction, is located between two base bodies  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ,  20 . 3  in each case. The support elements  50  and the coupling piece  55 ′ or base body  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ,  20 . 3  and the coupling piece  55 ′ may also be of one piece. 
     The modules  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3  comprise guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3  which are arranged on the base body  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ,  20 . 3  and which are coupled into a guide  22  of the device  1 , which is continuous in the axial direction. These guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3  are anchored in their end regions to the support elements  50 . A twisting of the guides is also counteracted with large total lengths of the drum  12  by way of this. 
     As  FIG. 2  shows, such support elements which serve for anchoring the guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2  of the respective module, are arranged at the respective outwardly lying end regions of the complete device which are not connected to a further module. These end regions have a coupling  120  via which the drum shaft  12  is connected to the drive  16  and/or is mounted in the frame  18 . 
     The guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3  have the shape of profiled sheet metal with an essentially straight guide surface  22   a  and with a rear surface  22   b  provided with notches. The notches or the complete rear surface  22   b  serve as guides for the advance elements  44 . These are indicated in  FIGS. 3   b  and  3   c . EP-A 0 550 828 is referred to for a more detailed explanation of the construction and the function of the advance elements  44  and its control. Since the advance elements  44  only execute a certain travel, which is smaller than the distance of two support elements  50 , their movement is not prevented by the support elements  50 . The advance elements  44  of two adjacent modules  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2  which in each case are assigned to a common receiver part  26 , are coupled to one another by way of suitable means which e.g. engage over the support elements  50 , e.g. by way of rods. By way of this, they may be driven by way of a common drive and be controlled by way of a common control device, as with the device which is not subdivided, e.g. according to EP-A 0 550 828. 
     The spoked wheel  52 , seen in the axial direction, has a straight front surface and rear surface, and an axial extension which is small compared to the length L of the module. The spoked wheel  52  in the peripheral direction comprises the same number of spokes  54  as the drum  12  has support elements  22 . The notches between the spokes  54  serve for the unhindered passage of the printed products  10 ,  10 ′ along the guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3 . 
     The sections  24 . 1 ,  24 . 2  of the rest  24  described above, are here formed of a bent profile sheet metal, which is placed onto the guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3 , but may also be designed as one piece with these. The guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3 , at their ends which face the rotation axis  14 , are located in grooves  80  in the drum shaft  12  or its sections  12 . 1 ,  12 . 2  which are located over the whole length of the drum shaft  12  or the respective section, or are located only in the region of the spoke wheel  52 . The guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3  at their end regions which lie to the outside in the axial direction, are anchored on the spokes  54  of the spoke wheel  52 . For this, these have a shape which is essentially complementary to the profile of the rear surface  22  of the guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3 , as is shown in  FIG. 3   b.    
     The width of the guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3 , measured in the radial direction, corresponds roughly to the difference of the radii r 1  and r 2 . However, it is also possible for the guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3  or the rest sections  24 . 1 ,  24 . 3  placed thereon, to project radially beyond the support elements  50 . In this case, the radially outwardly lying surfaces of the guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3  or the deposited rest sections  24 . 1 ,  24 . 3 , are preferably connected to one another by way of connections elements  57 . By way of this, the stability is additionally increased and a shoulder-less, continuous guide surface or guide edge of the guides  22  is created. 
       FIG. 3   c  shows a section through a module in a middle region, i.e. on the side distant to the support elements  50 . Here, the construction corresponds to a non-modular device, e.g. according to EP-A 0 550 828. Only a few guide sections  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3  and only one advance elements  44  are shown, for the purpose of a better overview. 
       FIG. 4  shows several variants of a device constructed of different modules. All variants comprise a first module  1 . 1  as well as a second module  1 . 2 . Both modules are basically constructed as described with reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3   a - d , and have roughly the same length L measured in the axial direction. In its end regions, the device  1  is mounted on a machine frame  18 . The device is supported outside the end regions by holding devices which are not shown here. 
     The first module  1 . 1  which is arranged here in each case in the right end region of the device, comprises a control device  28  for the advance elements  44 . This preferably comprises a link control  108  which here is only indicated schematically, in particular as described in EP-A 0 550 828. The advance elements  44  of all modules  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2  are coupled to one another and may therefore be controlled by the same control device  28 . In particular, they execute a synchronous travel movement in the axial direction as well as a synchronous clamping movement in the peripheral direction. 
     The first module  1 . 1  is furthermore coupled to four feed stations  30 , which here are illustrated only schematically, however e.g. are described in more detail in EP-A 0 550 828. 
     The second module  1 . 2 , which here in each case is arranged in the left end region of the device, comprises a lead-away station  32  which is likewise only shown in a schematic manner. It has roughly the same width as a feed station  30 , of which the second module  1 . 2  has five. The lead-away station  32  is arranged below the drum  12 , as sketched in  FIG. 5 . It comprises a stapler device, for example. 
     The device which is composed of these base elements  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2  may be supplemented by further modules  1 . 3 ,  1 . 4 . Two different intermediate module types are sketched in the right part of  FIG. 4 . A first intermediate module  1 . 3  has six feed stations  30  and a total length L which corresponds to the length of a base element  1 . 1 . A second intermediate module  1 . 4  has only four feed stations  30  and a correspondingly reduced total length L′, which is about ⅔ of the length L. One, two or more of these intermediate modules  1 . 3 ,  1 . 4  may be arranged between the base modules  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 , depending on the demands on the assembled printed product to be manufactured.  FIG. 4  shows different examples for devices with in total 9, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 feed stations. The construction kit system permits a simple extension of existing devices thanks to the uniform interfaces of the modules. According to the invention, one is also able to create the required stability. 
       FIG. 6  shows an overview of different devices assembled from modules, wherein here, in each case the lead-away station  32  with a stapling assembly sketched in  FIG. 5  is indicated. The devices basically do not differ from those of  FIG. 4 , with two exceptions outlined hereinafter. 
     Two of the devices, next to the lead-away station  32  with a stapling assembly, which is arranged in the left end region, comprise a further lead-away station  32 ′ with a stapling assembly, which is equal with regard to its construction. This further lead-away station is located in the middle of an intermediate module  1 . 3  (left part of  FIG. 6 ) or at the beginning of the intermediate module (right part of  FIG. 6 ). For this reason, the respective devices for this reason may be applied for assembling two products independent of one another, in parallel. The respective assembled end products, which consist in each case of 6 or 8 part products, are removed at the two lead-away stations  32 ,  32 ′. Instead of independent products, one may also manufacture identical products with the two part devices, and these may be removed at the lead-away stations  32 ,  32 ′, in order, thus, to achieve a double output. If required, the further lead-away station  32 ′ may however also be deactivated, in order to manufacture an end product consisting of 11 or 15 part products, by way of a series arrangement of all present feed stations  30 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a partly sectioned view of a device  1  according to the invention, in the direction of the rotation axis  14 . One may recognise the drum  12  with the drum shaft  20  and radially projecting guides  22  which are arranged thereon and which form guide surfaces or pocket-like receiver parts  26 , which are continuous in the axial direction. The modular construction of the device as well as the support elements  50  according to the invention, are not visible in this representation. Holding devices  42  for the actual drum  12 , and holding devices  43  which prevent the products from falling out of the receiver parts  26 , are located below the drum. The drum  12  and these holding devices  42 ,  43  are located in a machine frame  18 . This has a passage for a lead-away station  32 , which here comprises a gripper conveyor  140 . 
     Advance elements  44 , as described above, run on the profiled rear side of the guides  22  in the axial direction. Levers  104  which are moved together with the drum  12  or in each case with a receiver part  26 , are located in the first module  1 . 1  in the region of the control device  28 , i.e. in an end region of the device. These levers are directly coupled to the respective advance elements  44  of the first module  1 . 1 . The advance elements  44  of the remaining modules have no such levers  104 . However, an indirect coupling of these advance elements to the lever  104  exists by way of coupling the advance elements  44  of adjacent modules  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 , . . . amongst one another. 
     The lever  104  at its radially outwardly lying end has a control roller  106  which projects beyond the respective receivers  24 . It cooperates with a link arrangement  108 , which is led around the axially outwardly lying end region of the first module  1 . 1 , in a casing-like manner, and is part of the control device. The travel movement of the advance elements  44  is caused by way of a suitable shape of the link arrangement  108 . Details of the control and the advance elements may be deduced from the already mentioned documents EP-A 0 341 425 and EP-A 0 550 828. 
     The holding devices  42  for the drum  12  comprise a support belt  110  which is led over several revolving rollers  12 , such that its belt face facing the drum  12  roughly supports the lower third of the drum. Sagging is prevented by way of this. The support belt  110  preferably has an unstructured surface. Problems with regard to the synchronisation of the rests and of any revolvingly moved holding elements adapted thereto, are avoided by way of this. These may for example occur with the holding device described in EP-A 0 550 828, with which the holding elements which are V-shaped in cross section, engage around the rests and support them by way of this. 
     The holding device  42  for the drum is preferably arranged in the vicinity of the interface between two modules. The control device  28  is configured such that the products are located in the regions of the interfaces in the upper half of the revolving path or the drum  12 . The support belt  110  of the holding device does not therefore come into contact with the products. Thus, there is no danger that these are damaged between the drum  12  and the support belt  110 . 
     Holding devices  43  for the products are arranged laterally of the drum holding device  42  in the regions. It likewise comprises a support belt  114  which revolves over deflection rollers  116 , and in the lower drum half bears on the rests  24  or closes the receiver parts  26 . The support belt  114  here does not need to exert a large force onto the drum  12 , since only the weight force of the products needs to be accommodated, in order to prevent these from falling out. 
     The described functional subdivision of the holding devices  42 ,  43  into holding devices for the drum and holding devices for the products and their spatial separation, has the advantage that the drum as well as the products may be supported in a simple and safe manner—specifically with one support belt—without mechanically compromising the products. This concept may advantageously also be applied with device having no modular design.