Patent Publication Number: US-2013237397-A1

Title: Device and method for buffering a plurality of goods or groups of goods and paper handling system comprising same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of copending International Application No. PCT/EP2011/068354, filed Oct. 20, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and additionally claims priority from German Application No. 10 2010 043 063.3, filed Oct. 28, 2010, which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention relate to processing goods or groups of goods, in particular to processing sheets which are processed within a paper handling system as individual sheets or groups of sheets. 
     Paper handling systems exemplarily serve for producing letters being sent to a plurality of recipients, using which telephone bills, bank statements or similar things are, for example, sent. Cover notes of this kind either include an individual sheet or a plurality of sheets which are then processed within the system as a group. The sheets processed by the system are then exemplarily introduced into an envelope by means of an inserter and sent to a recipient. In such paper handling systems, the sheets forming the plurality of cover letters are fed via one or several input channels, collecting the sheets of a group of sheets being necessitated before processing same together. The sheets may exemplarily be provided by a paper roll onto which the plurality of sheets have been printed before, exemplarily in a multi-up manner. The roll is then fed via the input channel and at first cut in a longitudinal and a transverse direction so as to generate individual sheets which are subsequently collected in a collection stage as individual sheets or groups of sheets. The speed at which the sheets of a collecting stage can be provided may differ depending on the speed at which same are moved out of the collection stage for being provided to subsequent processing, such as, for example, a folding mechanism. 
       FIG. 1  shows a paper handling system including a plurality of handling stages, i.e. a cutter  100 , a so-called merger  102 , a collecting stage  104  and a folding mechanism  106 , schematically. At an input, the cutter  100  receives a paper web  108  which is imprinted with the text of the individual sheets  110  and  112  to be generated later on in a several-up manner. In the upper section,  FIG. 1  shows a schematic top view illustration of the processed sheets and, in the lower part, a schematic side view illustration of the sheets. The cutter  100  causes a longitudinal cut and a transverse cut of the paper web  108  so as to separate the individual sheets  110  and  112 , such that, as is shown in  FIG. 1 , after cutting, there are single sheets. From the cutter  100 , the individual sheets  110  and  112  are transferred in parallel to the merger  102 , or merging web, which moves both sheets  110  and  112  such that they are arranged one above the other, as is shown in  FIG. 1 . The sheets arranged in this way are transferred from the merger  102  to the collecting stage  104 . As has been mentioned, the folding mechanism  106  follows the collecting stage  104 . In order to decouple the speed at which the sheets are received from the collecting stage  104  from the speed at which the folding mechanism  106  can process sheets, a buffer  114  (illustrated by a buffer section  114 ) is arranged between the output of the collecting stage  104  and the input of the folding mechanism  106 , a plurality of individual sheets or groups of sheets  116   a  to  116 I being arranged in the buffer, for example in a shingled arrangement, as is shown in  FIG. 1 . The collecting stage  104  is configured to deposit the received sheets  110 ,  112  at a first buffer stage along the buffer section  114  of the buffer. At the end of the buffer section  114 , the group of sheets, or individual sheet  1161 , present at the last buffer position is withdrawn at a speed corresponding to a processing speed of the following component, in this case the folding mechanism. The group of sheets  118  withdrawn is fed to the folding mechanism, exemplarily a double folding mechanism, and the folded groups  118 ′ are fed to further processing. Further processing may either be sealing, for example, the short sides of the folded group of sheets  118 ′ such that the mail piece to be sent is finished here already. In this case, at least one of the individual sheets  110 ,  112  is printed such that an addressee is visible on the outside after the folding process. Alternatively, the folded group of sheets  118 ′ may be fed to an inserter which subsequently inserts the group of sheets  118 ′ into envelopes. 
     Providing the buffer section  114  allows decoupling the processing speeds of the components arranged in front of the collection stage  104  from the processing speed of the components arranged after the collecting stage  104 . This means that the input channel formed by the cutter and the merger  102  may operate at a basically constant speed, since the speed excess relative to the processing speed of the folding mechanism  106  is compensated by the buffer section  114 . Conventional buffer sections  114  operate such that an individual sheet or group of sheets is deposited at the first buffer stage  116   a  and passes each individual buffer stage  116   a - 116 I in correspondence with the speed of a buffer transport provided, irrespective of the filling state of the buffer section  114 . When the group reaches the output of the buffer section  114 , it is withdrawn. 
     The arrangement of a buffer is not limited to the configuration of a paper handling system as shown in  FIG. 1 . Basically, such a buffer is employed wherever decoupling of speeds is necessitated, such as, for example, where a preceding component provides a good or a group of goods at a speed which may be higher than a speed at which a subsequent component is able to accept the good or group of goods.  FIG. 1   a  shows further examples of the arrangement of one or several buffers in a paper handling system, wherein a buffer may be arranged at all positions or only at selected positions shown in  FIG. 1   a.  A buffer  114  may generally be arranged between the input channel and an inserter  120 . In the input channel of the paper handling system, a buffer  114  may be arranged between the merger  102  and the collecting stage  104  (not shown in  FIG. 1   a ) and/or between the collecting stage  104  and the folding mechanism  106  and/or between the folding mechanism  106  and a merging web  122  and/or between the merging web  122  and the inserter  120 . In addition, a buffer  114  may be arranged between the inserter  120  and a post-processing component, such as, for example, a postage module  124 . 
     Different approaches for realizing a buffer within a paper handling system are known from conventional technology. EP 1 206 402 A and EP 1 206 407 A describe buffers which receive a plurality of sheets or groups of sheets in a shingled manner, and, in particular, approaches for accepting sheets or groups of sheets into such a buffer stage in a shingled manner, or withdrawing sheets of a group from such a buffer stage. EP 1 433 733 A describes a buffer transport system for an inserting system in which each buffer stage is formed by several pairs of rolls including associated sensorics so as to optionally provide a four-stage or six-stage buffer, depending on the format to be processed. EP 1 108 668 A describes a temporary storage for documents wherein continuous transport is provided for by belts by means of which documents taken over from a preceding component are moved through the buffer. A movable slide is provided for establishing a buffer section within the system. WO 2004/063071 A describes a buffer for receiving a stack of sheets wherein the sheets are deposited in a shingled manner and the entire stack is moved to the output for withdrawing a sheet so as to be able to withdraw a lower sheet from the stack. 
     EP 1 433 733 A relates to a flexible buffer transport system for buffering collected documents, the buffer being formed by a plurality of rolls and sensors which may each be controlled individually by special motors. Depending on the format to be processed, buffer positions are established using the controller and corresponding rolls are associated to the individual buffer positions and driven together. In a case in which there are no downstream documents within the buffer transport for a collected group, transfer of the collected documents to the transport of the following inserter takes place synchronously and depending on the availability of the transport of the following envelope. When there are one or several empty buffer positions in the direction towards the output, the buffer section in accordance with EP 1 433 733 A avoids passing all the buffer stages in correspondence with the buffer transport speed by moving on at the speed of the following component, however, the setup and control in accordance with EP 1 433 733 A are complicated with regard to both mechanics and controlling. In addition, this known buffer section does not allow a shingled arrangement of goods or groups of goods. 
     SUMMARY 
     Departing from this known technology, it is the object of the present invention to develop a buffer such that moving the group of goods or good out quickly is made possible such that unnecessary queue times, as may be found in the known technology in accordance with  FIG. 1 , are avoided without complicating the setup in terms of mechanics and controlling. 
     According to an embodiment, a device for buffering a plurality of individual sheets or groups of sheets may have: a buffer section configured to receive a plurality of individual sheets or groups of sheets; a buffer transport configured to move an individual sheet or group of sheets at a buffer transport speed; and a runout configured to move out an individual sheet or group of sheets from the device at a runout speed which is higher than the buffer transport speed; characterized in that the runout is configured to act on an individual sheet or group of sheets at a last occupied position along the buffer section so as to take over transport of the individual sheet or the group of sheets before the individual sheet or group of sheets has reached an end of the buffer section. 
     According to another embodiment, a paper handling system may have: one or several handling stages; and at least one device as mentioned above for collecting individual sheets or groups of sheets. 
     According to still another embodiment, a method for buffering a plurality of individual sheet or groups of sheets in a buffer section for receiving a plurality of individual sheet or groups of sheets, a buffer transport moving an individual sheet or group of sheets at a buffer transport speed, and a runout moving out an individual sheet or group of sheets at a runout speed which is higher than the buffer transport speed, may be characterized by the following step: acting, by the runout for moving out, on an individual sheet or group of sheets at a last occupied position along the buffer section so as to take over transport of the individual sheet or the group of sheets before the individual sheet or group of sheets has reached an end of the buffer section. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the buffer section includes a plurality of successive buffer positions, each buffer position being configured to receive a good or group of goods. The buffer positions along the buffer section are set fixedly or are settable variably in dependence on a dimension (such as, for example, length) of the good to be buffered or group of goods to be buffered. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the invention, a novel buffer device is suggested, in which, unlike in conventional buffers, a good or group of goods does no longer have to pass all the buffer positions in a buffer in correspondence with a buffer transport speed until finally withdrawal for further transport to a following component is achieved. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, this is achieved by the fact that each buffer position within the buffer device may still be occupied by a good or group of goods, however, in case that buffer positions remain unoccupied before the runout, a kind of “moveable” runout is provided which allows withdrawal of a good or group of goods from the last occupied buffer position without the good or group of goods having to pass each individual following empty buffer stage in correspondence with the clocked driving of the buffer transport. Exemplarily, when forming groups, the runout is moved to the last occupied buffer position to cause direct withdrawal for subsequent processing there, wherein this last buffer position is closer to the output of the buffer device with several successive small groups and closer to the input of the buffer device with several successive larger groups. However, a situation in which every subsequent buffer position is passed using the buffer transport is avoided, rather a finished collected group is withdrawn directly from the last occupied buffer position for subsequent processing. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, this is realized by a movable runout which is moved to the last occupied buffer position so as to accept a good or group of goods there. Alternatively, providing selectively connectable runout elements of the runout at predetermined discrete points may be provided, exemplarily a runout element may be provided at each buffer position such that, in case a central buffer position is the last occupied buffer position, the runout element associated to this buffer position and also all other runout elements associated to the subsequent empty buffer positions are lowered so as to allow contact to the good to be moved out so as to allow accelerated move out, irrespective of the buffer transport of the buffer device. 
     The known technology mentioned above in accordance with EP 1 433 733 A is based on an approach in which the concept of separating buffer transport and runout transport is abandoned and instead a plurality of individually driven pairs of rolls are used which allow the functionality of the buffer transport on the one hand and the functionality of the runout transport on the other hand by corresponding controlling. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, in contrast, the basic concept of a buffer as has been described referring to  FIG. 1  is maintained, i.e. a concept which provides for providing buffer transport and runout transport, wherein the buffer transport moves the good from one buffer stage to the next within the buffer and the runout transport passes the good on to a subsequent component. The approach in accordance with embodiments of the invention provides modification of this conventional buffer approach in that the runout which so far has been arranged statically at the end of the buffer section is configured to be “moveable” and thus goods are moved out from a last occupied buffer position. 
     In contrast to conventional approaches, the device in accordance with embodiments of the invention is of advantage finished collected goods/groups of goods may now be moved out rapidly since it is no longer necessary to pass the entire buffer section from one buffer position to the next in accordance with the buffer transport speed. In contrast to known technology, as is known from EP 1 433 733 A, the approach in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is of advantage since the functionality of the buffer device and corresponding elements, i.e. in-feed, buffer section and runout, is maintained in principle, whereas in accordance with the document cited a complete modification of the conventional buffer device is necessitated. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the control complexity is smaller since the basic controlling of the buffer section essentially remains unchanged and only corresponding control of the moveable runout is necessitated in order to cause early withdrawal of a group or individual good from a last occupied buffer position along the buffer section. In contrast to known technology, as is known from EP 1 433 733 A, the approach in accordance with embodiments of the invention is of further advantage since the goods or groups of goods may be accepted in the buffer section in a shingled or non-shingled manner. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the buffer may be part of a collection stage which will then be able to collect and buffer at the same time a plurality of goods or groups of goods. 
     In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, the buffer transport includes a first vacuum transport comprising a plurality of vacuum chambers which may be activated selectively, and the runout includes a second vacuum transport comprising a plurality of vacuum chambers which may be activated selectively, wherein one or several of the activated vacuum chambers of the first vacuum transport may be provided so as to define a position for receiving the good or group of goods. The first and second vacuum transports may be arranged next to each other or above each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will be detailed subsequently referring to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a paper handling system including a plurality of handling stages, including a conventional buffer section; 
         FIG. 1   a  shows further examples of the arrangement of one or several buffers in a paper handling system; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a buffer stage in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprising a plurality of actuatable runout modules along the buffer section; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of the buffer stage of  FIG. 2  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of the buffer stage of  FIG. 2  in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of a buffer stage in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprising a runout module moveable along the buffer section; 
         FIG. 6  is a side sectional illustration of the moveable runout in accordance with  FIG. 5  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view sectional illustration of the runout of  FIG. 6  along the line b-b in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of an in-feed mechanism in accordance with embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows a guiding rail pair of the in-feed mechanism of  FIG. 8  in accordance with an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic illustration of a buffer stage in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Same elements or elements having the same effect are provided with the same reference numerals in the following description of embodiments of the invention. 
     An embodiment of the invention will be discussed below referring to  FIG. 2 , wherein the runout is formed by a plurality of runout modules.  FIG. 2  shows a schematic illustration of the buffer stage  200  comprising an in-feed  202  for feeding the sheets to a buffer section  204  including a plurality of transport units  206   a - 206   f,  the transport units  206   a - 206   f  being arranged at corresponding buffer positions  207   a - 207   f  of the buffer  200  and being moveable between same. Each of the transport units  206   a - 206   f  includes a clamping element  208 , such as, for example, one or several pairs of pliers  208  of which only the pair of pliers  208  arranged at the transport unit  206   a  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The pliers  208  serve for clamping a good arranged at a transport unit  206 , such as, for example, an individual sheet or a group of sheets, such that same may be moved through the buffer. The transport units  206   a - 206   f  are, for example, arranged along a buffer transport  209 , such as, for example, along a conveyer belt or along a conveyer chain, spaced apart from one another, wherein the conveyer chain is driven by a drive not shown in  FIG. 2  in a clocked manner (in start/stop operation) so as to move the transport units through the buffer section  204  in correspondence with a predetermined buffer transport speed, such that exemplarily the first transport unit  206   a  shown in  FIG. 2  has passed buffer positions  206   a - e  after five clocks and reached buffer position  206   f  where the buffer position  206   f  is arranged in  FIG. 2 . In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , for reasons of simplicity, only an individual sheet  210  which is received by the first transport unit  206   a  arranged at the first buffer position  207   a  is arranged in the buffer section  204 . More precisely, the, in the direction of transport, back end of the sheet  210  is held at the first transport unit  206   a  by the clamp  208 . The remaining buffer positions along the buffer section  204  are unoccupied. If sheets were arranged here, too, a plurality of groups of sheets or individual sheets would be arranged within the buffer section  204  in a shingled manner, similarly to what is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Additionally, the buffer stage  200  includes a runout  212  which in the embodiment shown is formed by a plurality of runout modules  212   a - e.  Each of the runout modules  212   a - 212   e  includes a carrier  214   a - 214   e  provided so as to carry a conveyer element  216   a - 216   e.  The conveyer element  216   a - 216   e  may be formed by a roll, two or several rolls arranged one after the other in the direction of transport of the good or group of goods, a belt or a roll of a D-shaped cross-section. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the runout modules  212   a - 212   e  are arranged so as to be moveable vertically, as is shown by corresponding arrows  213  in  FIG. 2 . Each of the runout modules  212   a - 212   e  is associated to one of the buffer positions  207   b - 207   f  downstream of the in-feed  202 . The first buffer position  207   a  which is opposite the in-feed  202  has no runout module associated therewith. The clocked mode of driving the buffer section  204  is such that, during a movement clock, a transport unit (such as, for example,  206   b ) is advanced by a section from a buffer position (such as, for example,  207   b ) to the next buffer position (such as, for example,  207   c ) such that a runout module will be “opposite” a transport unit. 
     The runout modules  212   a - 212   e  may be controlled individually so as to be moved vertically between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the runout module  212  is arranged such that the associated conveyer element  216   a  does not engage the individual sheet or group of sheets arranged within the buffer, as is exemplarily shown in  FIG. 2  using the runout modules  212   a - 212   c  which are arranged in their first positions. In the second position, the runout modules, see, for example, runout modules  212   d  and  212   e,  are arranged such that their conveyer elements  216  engage a good to be transported so as to allow transport of the good irrespective of the transport speed of the buffer transport  209 . 
     As has been mentioned, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  only a single sheet  210  is exemplarily arranged along the buffer section  204 . Groups of sheets, folded goods or goods inserted in envelopes may also be buffered instead of an individual sheet. Same has been deposited at the first buffer position  207   a  by the in-feed  202  and received by the transport unit  206   a  present there at that time and held for transport along the buffer section. Thus, the following buffer positions  206   b - 206   e  are free or unoccupied. In accordance with conventional approaches, the transport unit  206   a  would have to be moved along the buffer section  204  in a clocked manner by means of the buffer transport until an, in the direction of transport, front end of the sheet  210  has reached a stationary runout arranged at the end of the buffer section where it is accepted by same and removed. When exemplarily assuming that the position of the stationary runout corresponded to the position of the runout module  212   e,  in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , at least one clock would be necessitated for moving the sheet  210  on, only then could removal take place. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, however, early removal is allowed by finding out that the buffer positions  207   b - 207   f  are unoccupied such that a runout module  214   d  associated to the front end of the sheet  210  and a following runout module  212   e  are lowered to the second position so as to allow engagement of the sheet  250 . This causes removal of the individual sheet  210  in the direction of the output of the buffer section by the runout module  212   d  in cooperation with the runout module  214   e  at a speed independent of buffer transport such that the sheet  210  is able to leave the buffer section  204  early without at first having to wait until it has reached the runout by means of the buffer transport. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the buffer additionally includes a sensor circuit configured to detect a position of a good or group of goods along the buffer section  204 . The sensor circuit includes a plurality of sensors S which are illustrated schematically in  FIG. 2 , at least one sensor S each being associated to one of the buffer positions  207   a - f  so as to determine whether a buffer position is occupied or unoccupied. The runout  212  is configured to determine, based on the sensor signals, the buffer position along the buffer section  204  where the transport of a good or group of goods is to be taken over by the runout  212  in the manner described before. Alternatively, a position of a good or group of goods in the buffer may be calculated without requiring sensors which detect a position of the good along the buffer section. Calculation may then take place based on a speed at which the drives of the buffer operate or at which the good or group of goods is moved and based on a known format size of a good or the largest good in a group which may, for example, be provided by the job description. The speed of the drives or speed of the good or group of goods may exemplarily be detected by suitable sensors. 
     It is to be pointed out here that, using  FIG. 2 , an embodiment has been described in which the sheets or groups of sheets are arranged within the buffer section  204  in a shingled manner and are held by the transport unit at a, in the direction of transport, back end. In this case, the sheets or groups of sheets are “pushed” along the buffer section. Alternatively, the sheets or groups of sheets may also be held by the transport unit in a, in the direction of transport, front end. In this case, the sheets or groups of sheets are “pulled” along the buffer section. However, the invention is not limited to buffers which receive the goods or groups of goods to be buffered in a shingled manner. Also, a non-shingled arrangement may be provided for such that, for example, one compartment each for receiving a sheet or group of sheets is formed by two transport elements arranged on the buffer transport in a spaced-apart manner. The spacing of the transport elements exemplarily corresponds to a format length of the sheets to be processed. Depending on the circumstances, a corresponding arrangement of the sheets in a shingled manner or non-shingled manner may be desirable. 
     The buffer transport  209  may be the pliers transport shown in  FIG. 2 . Other transport mechanisms may also be used, such as, for example, a stud transport which includes individual compartments for receiving the good or group of goods. The pliers or studs of the buffer transport  209  are in fixed distances to one another, corresponding to the distance of the buffer positions  207 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , the original approach of separating runout and buffer transports is maintained by the buffer transport  209  and the runout  212  each including separate transport elements. The buffer transport  209  may include pliers transport or stud transport and the runout  212  may include roll or belt transport. 
     Another embodiment of the invention wherein the runout  212  includes a plurality of runout modules, similarly to  FIG. 2 , is shown referring to  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the runout modules  212   a - 212   e  which are opposite the corresponding buffer positions  207   a - 207   f  or associated thereto, are provided again. Additionally, for bridging the distance between two successive buffer positions, further runout modules  218   a - 218   e  which are equal in setup to the modules  212   a - 212   e  and are also moveable in correspondence therewith between the first and second positions are provided. Each of the runout modules shown in  FIG. 3  includes a carrier which in the module  212   a  is exemplarily referenced by the reference numeral  214   a.  The carrier  214   a  carries the conveyer element  216   a  which is mounted to be rotatable around an axis  224   a  so as to allow rotation in the direction of the transport direction. The additional runout modules  218   a - 218   e  also include carriers  220   e  and conveyer elements  222   e  which are mounted to be rotatable around an axis  226   e.  In the runout modules in accordance with  FIG. 3 , the axes  224  and  226  are moveable vertically, as is illustrated by the arrow  227  so as to cause lowering of the conveyer elements  216  and  222 , respectively, from the first position in which there is no engagement of the goods, to the second position, where engagement of the goods is possible. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , the buffer section  204  contains three sheets or groups of sheets  210 ,  210 ′ and  210 ″, wherein the group  210  is, for example, held by the transport unit  206   c  and the group  210 ′ by the transport unit  206   b.  Group  210 ″ is about to be introduced into the buffer section and is to be received and held by the transport unit  206   a.  Similarly to  FIG. 2 , in  FIG. 3 , too, it is to be recognized that there are no further groups arranged in the direction of transport after group  210  such that group  210  is moved out already before reaching the end of the buffer section  214  in correspondence with the teachings in accordance with embodiments of the invention by moving the runout modules  212   d  and  212   e  and the runout modules  218   c - 218   e  from the first position to the second position so as to ensure engagement of the good between the last occupied buffer position and the runout or output of the buffer section. The conveyer elements of the runout modules mentioned are driven at the necessitated removal speed which is higher than the transport speed of the buffer section such that the group of sheets  210  or individual sheet  210  is moved out rapidly. 
       FIG. 4  shows another embodiment which is similar to the embodiment in accordance with  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the runout modules are implemented such that no vertical movement thereof is necessary between the first position and the second position. Rather, the conveyer elements  216  and  222  of the corresponding runout modules are implemented by rolls having a D-shaped cross-section, so-called D-rolls which are arranged in the module  212   a  to be rotatable around the corresponding rotational axis  224  and  226 , respectively, in the direction of the arrow  229  shown in  FIG. 4 . The conveyer elements  216 ,  222  at the beginning are in a rest position, as is exemplarily shown in the module  212   a  where there is no engagement of the goods. For causing transport of the goods, the conveyer element is rotated, as is shown in the runout module  212   d  so as to move same to a second position or through a second position so as to cause engagement of the sheet  210  to cause same to be conveyed. The runout modules following the module  212   d  are driven in a staggered manner so as to cause temporally adjusted actuation of the corresponding conveyer elements  222  and  216  to cause the sheet  210  conveyed by the module  212   d  to be conveyed further in the direction of the output. 
     Another embodiment of the invention will be described below referred to  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 5 , buffer  200  is shown again, wherein, unlike in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the runout  212  is realized by a single runout module  230  which is movable along the direction of transport, as is illustrated in  FIG. 5  by the arrow  231 . The setup of the inlet and the buffer section corresponds to the setup in accordance with  FIG. 2  and, similarly to  FIG. 2 , only an individual sheet  210  or group which is arranged along the buffer section  204  is illustrated for reasons of simplicity. Similarly to  FIG. 2 , in  FIG. 5 , too, the buffer is empty after sheet  210  such that it would be necessitated for reaching a fixed runout at the end of the buffer section to move the sheet  210  through the buffer positions  206   b  to  207   f  in a clocked manner in correspondence with the transport speed of the buffer transport until the, in the direction of transport, front end of the sheet  210  has reached the stationary runout. Similarly to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , this is avoided in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  by allowing early withdrawal of the sheet  210  when there are no further sheets, in the direction of transport in front of the sheet, in the buffer section. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the runout  212  includes the moveable module  230  which includes a carrier  232  and a conveyer element  234  mounted to the carrier  232  which may be implemented in the same manner as in the modules described before using  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The moveable module  230  is arranged such that its conveyer element  234  will be able, in every position, to engage a sheet or group of sheets  210 , if there are any along the buffer section. When recognizing that sheet  210  is the last sheet, the movable module  230  is moved, departing from a rest position, which is exemplarily arranged at the end of the buffer section, in the direction of the buffer input until the front end of the sheet  210  which in the example shown in  FIG. 5  is at the buffer position  207   e  has been reached, wherein subsequently the sheet  210  is removed at a removal speed which is higher than a transport speed of the buffer transport. For removal, it may be provided for that the module  230  moves in the direction of the output during conveyance of the sheet by the conveyer element  234  so as to ensure continuous conveying of the sheet. 
     An embodiment of the invention for realizing the moveable runout  212  in accordance with 
       FIG. 5  will be discussed in greater detail below referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  shows a side sectional illustration of the runout and  FIG. 7  shows a top view sectional illustration. In  FIG. 6 , the buffer section  204  is shown comprising the buffer positions  207   a  to  207   k  where the transport units  206   a - 206   k  which are moved between the buffer positions in a clocked manner in the conventional manner using a buffer transport are arranged. Exemplarily, the buffer transport  209  includes a chain circulating around two rolls such that the transport units are moved back to the beginning of the buffer section when reaching the end of the buffer section. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , sheets or groups of sheets  210 ,  210 ′ and  210 ″ are shown in the buffer section, the group of sheets  210  being held by the transport unit  206   b  at the buffer position  207   b  and the group of sheets  210 ′ being held by the transport unit  206   a  at the buffer position  207   a,  as can be recognized by the clamping mechanism  208  folded back. The group of sheets  210  is held either by another buffer position not shown in  FIG. 6  or has already been introduced so as to be received by a transport unit engaging the group of sheets  210 ′ in the next clock. 
     The runout  212  includes a top belt transport  236  and a bottom belt transport  238 . The top belt transport  236  includes a first return roll  240  and a second return roll  242  for guiding a top transport belt  244 . The top belt transport additionally includes the moveable runout module  230  which is arranged to be moveable along the direction of transport of the goods  210 , as is illustrated by the arrow  231 . The sled  230  includes a carrier structure  232  where the conveyer element  234  is arranged so as to allow rotational movement. In addition, the carrier structure  232  carries two return rolls  246  and  248  which are arranged one behind the other in a spaced-apart manner in the direction of transport. The transport belt of the top belt transport  236  is received by the return rolls such that the first return roll  246  receives the belt  244  at a position spaced apart from the buffer transport  204 . The belt  244  extends between the two return rolls  246  and  248  such that the second return roll  248  guides the belt at a lower portion neighboring to the buffer section  204 . The first roll  240  of the top belt transport  236  has greater a diameter than the second roll  242  such that the belt is guided between the second return roll  248  and the first roll  240  of the belt transport  236  neighboring to the buffer transport  240  such that the belt engages a good or group of goods as is shown in  FIG. 6  at the reference numeral  250  so as to cause removal thereof at a removal speed which is higher than the buffer transport speed. The transport belt  244  is, in a portion between the second roll  242  of the belt transport  236  and the front return roll  246  of the sled  230 , guided in a manner spaced apart from the buffer section  204  such that same does not engage one or several goods arranged on the buffer section. 
     The conveyer element  234  is a roll element having a D-shaped cross-section (D roll) which is actuated when reaching a desired withdrawal position of the sled so as to catch a sheet at the position, exemplarily sheet  210  at the position  206   j,  or the, in the direction of transport, front edge thereof and introduce same by a rotation between the belt  240  of the top belt transport and a belt  252  of the bottom belt transport  238  so as to allow removal at the withdrawal speed. The bottom belt transport also includes two rolls  254  and  256  over which the bottom belt  252  is guided. By the cooperation of the two belts  252  and  244  in the portion behind the sled  230  in the direction of transport, withdrawal of the sheets or groups of sheets introduced in this region is allowed at the desired removal speed. 
     Depending on which of the positions  207  shown in  FIG. 6  is the last occupied position, i.e. the last position where there is a good, the sled  230  is moved to a suitable withdrawal position, exemplarily to a position corresponding to the front end of the sheet held by a transport unit. When reaching the withdrawal position, the conveyer element  234  is actuated so as to move between the belts  244  and  252  and remove the object at the removal position, exemplarily the sheet or group of sheets. 
       FIG. 7  shows a top view illustration of the arrangement of  FIG. 6  cut in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sheet along the line b-b. In  FIG. 7 , the belt  244  redirected by the second return roll  248  can be made out, as are the return rolls  240  and  242  of the top belt transport  236 . Additionally, it can be recognized that the sled  230  comprises a carry bar  258  arranged transverse to the direction of movement where two conveyer elements  234   a  and  234   b  are arranged movably so as to cause transfer of a good to be removed in the region between the belts  244  and  252  in the manner described above. Additionally, guide elements  260   a  and  260   b  which engage corresponding guiding rails  262   a  and  262   b  are provided at the carry bar  258  so as to allow moving the sled back and forth along the direction of transport between the desired withdrawal positions. The guiding rails  262   a  and  262   b  are exemplarily mounted to the casing  264  of the arrangement, which is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Elements  266   a  and  266   b  are stops which are arranged at the guiding rails  262   a  and  262   b  so as to limit movement of the sled  230 . In addition, in  FIG. 7 , the sheets or groups of sheets  210 ,  210 ′,  210 ″ are illustrated deposited in a shingled manner. Additionally, group  250  to be moved out at the moment is shown. 
     An embodiment in which the runout transport includes the withdrawal roll and the belt transport has been described in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Different embodiments may include alternative transport elements. In accordance with an embodiment, the runout may include a gripping element, such as, for example, a pair of pliers, which is arranged at the moveable module and takes up and holds the good to be removed such that the good is moved in the direction of the buffer output by the movement of the module. 
     The buffers described using  FIGS. 2 to 7  allow a filling speed and an emptying speed of the buffer which are principally independent from each other. 
     In the embodiments described before, it has been explained that the goods or groups of goods are arranged in a shingled manner, however, the invention is not limited to such a kind of buffering. Rather, compartments for taking up goods or groups of goods in a non-shingled manner may also be provided in the buffer. 
     An embodiment of an in-feed mechanism in accordance with embodiments of the invention will be described below making reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a lateral illustration of the in-feed  280 . The in-feed  280  includes the guiding element  290  which comprises two compartments  300  and  302  (see  FIG. 9 ) which extend along the buffer section  204  in the direction of transport. The compartments  300  and  302  serve for taking up one or several sheets received from a preceding component. The compartments  300  and  302  may be controllable such that, when actuating same, either both sheets within the arrangement  290  are deposited on the buffer section  204  and exemplarily, taken up and then clamped by the guiding element  206   a  at the, in the direction of transport, back end of the sheets. Alternatively, the compartments  300  and  302  may be actuated such that only the group in the bottom compartment  302  is released and the group  300  in the top compartment is transferred to the bottom compartment. In  FIG. 8 , a drive roll for the buffer transport  209  by means of which the individual buffer elements  206  are moved in a clocked manner along the different buffer positions is schematically shown with the reference numeral  310 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an illustration of an embodiment of the device  290  of  FIG. 8 . The guiding element  290  includes two guiding rails  312   a,    312   b  which are arranged by a distance d transverse to the direction of transport. The guiding rails  312   a  and  312   b  are implemented each to define the chambers  300   a,    300   b  and  302   a,    302   b  for receiving the sheets  296  and  298 , respectively. The guiding rails  312   a  and  312   b  are rotatable in the direction of the arrows shown in  FIG. 9 . In addition, a common transport element  314  which causes transport of both the bottom sheet  296  and the top sheet  298  is provided. As is shown in  FIG. 9 , a first pair of chambers  302   a,    302   b  is arranged at a bottom position neighboring to the first buffer position and a second pair of chambers  300   a,    300   b  is arranged at a top position neighboring to the first buffer position. 
     The mode of functioning of the in-feed described using  FIG. 9  will be discussed in greater detail below. We assume that the sheets are provided by an arrangement, as is shown using  FIG. 1 . The merged goods are taken over together from the merger by the center drive  314  and the top and bottom sheets are taken over laterally from the merger in the separate guiding rails such that the sheets are further introduced into the collection stage. The sheets arrived in the collection stage are deposited downwards onto the buffer by a rotation by 180° of the lateral guidings  312   a  and  312   b.  The rotation by an angle of, for example, 180° has the effect that both goods  296 ,  298  from both pairs of chambers  300   a,b,    302   a,b  are deposited at the first buffer position. When the group has been composed, the buffer is advanced by a corresponding distance predetermined by the clock such that exemplarily the transport unit  206   a  arranged at the position  207   a  shown in  FIG. 8  is advanced by a position, namely to the position  207   b.  Here, the groups may be clamped by the pliers  208  at back left and right sides. The runout releases clamping so as to let the group continue, exemplarily to the folding mechanism. Forming groups takes place at the clocking performance of the cutting machine, the runout following in correspondance with the buffer. 
     With small groups, the buffer is filled quicker than emptied. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the runout travels in the direction of the folding mechanism, together with the buffer. With larger groups, the runout proceeds in the direction of the collecting stage and empties the buffer continuously. An intelligent controller provides for the buffer to be filled in correspondence with the collecting amount. When the buffer reaches its filling limit, the speed of the previous component has, of course, to be reduced. 
     The runout may pass on groups with a small distance between goods, thereby allowing a folding mechanism, for example, to be used optimally, wherein at the same time the transport speed of the folding mechanism may be reduced. 
     With unpaired goods, i.e. when receiving two sheets  296  and  298  which belong to different groups to be collected, the lateral guidings are rotated only by 90°. The bottom sheet is placed with its group on the buffer, the top sheet is given from the top to the bottom guiding rail. A maximum of two sheets are collected in the bottom guiding rail. When being transported to the buffer, the sheets are deposited by the lateral guidings such that no additional vibration is necessary. Thus, rotation of the guidings by an angle of, for example, 90° causes the good  296  contained in the first pair of chambers  302   a,    302   b  to be deposited at the first buffer position and the first pair of chambers  302   a,    302   b  to be moved from the bottom position (exemplarily to the top position). At the same time, the second pair of chambers  300   a,    300   b  with the good ( 298 ) contained therein is moved to the bottom position. 
     It is pointed out here that more than two pairs of chambers which may be moved through different positions by a suitable mechanism may also be provided such that one or several of the chambers are discharged at the first buffer position, depending on the movement. 
     Instead of the in-feed described using  FIGS. 8 and 9 , other implementations of the in-feed may also be used, exemplarily an in-feed may comprise a transport mechanism for transferring a good or a group of goods from a preceding component to the first buffer position by means of a roll or belt transport, wherein the feeding transport, for example, essentially is in the plane of the buffer section. 
       FIG. 10  shows a buffer section in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. In contrast to the embodiments described so far in which belts or roll transports have been used, a vacuum transport is used in the buffer section in accordance with  FIG. 10 . 
     The buffer section  400  shown in  FIG. 10  includes an in-feed  402  and a runout  404 . The buffer section includes a top transport  406  and a bottom transport  408  between which a group or group of goods is moved. At the in-feed  402 , both the top transport  406  and the bottom transport  408  include an in-feed roll  410   a,    410   b  between which a good or group of goods introduced into the buffer section  400  is conveyed. In addition, the top transport  406  includes a top vacuum transport  412  including a belt  412   a  guided over two rolls  412   b  and  412   c.  Furthermore, the top vacuum transport  412  includes a plurality of vacuum chambers  412   d.  The bottom transport  408  includes a bottom vacuum transport  414  which, similarly to the top vacuum transport  412 , comprises a belt  414   a  guided around two rolls  414   b  and  414   c.  Additionally, the bottom transport includes a plurality of vacuum chambers  414   d.  The vacuum transports  412  and  414  each include selectively controllable vacuum chambers  412   d  and  414   d,  respectively, wherein transport of a good or group of goods may take place by transporting only at those positions along the belt where the associated vacuum chambers are provided with a vacuum. In  FIG. 10 , the vacuum chambers of the top transport  412  and the bottom transport  414  characterized by an “x” are inactive, i.e. despite a movement of the corresponding belts  412   a  and  414   a,  no good or group of goods is conveyed at these positions. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the buffer section  400  includes the bottom and top drives or transports  412  and  414  just described which may each be controlled separately from each other. More precisely, the respective drives each include separately controllable vacuum chambers, wherein the number of vacuum chambers is not limited to that shown in  FIG. 10 , rather more or less vacuum chambers may be provided as long as there is more than one vacuum chamber in each transport. In accordance with embodiments, controlling the vacuum chambers is done via a multi-channel valve. 
     The functionality of the buffer section  400  described using  FIG. 10  is such that the top transport  406  is responsible for accepting a good or group of goods from the in-feed  402  and for transporting the good or group of goods along the buffer section. The individual goods or group of goods are introduced into the buffer section  400  at the in-feed speed. The vacuum chambers  412   d  of the top transport are activated up to the good running out, which means that all the goods or groups of goods, except for the good running out, are held by the top transport/drive and transported in the direction of the runout  404  in a particular transport speed. Thus, a plurality of positions where a good or a group of goods may be received is defined by the top activated vacuum chambers  412   d,  wherein in the example shown in  FIG. 10  the respective positions are defined fixedly or variably. In accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 10 , it may be provided for each of the vacuum chambers  412   d  to define a position or buffer position and for this definition to be predetermined fixedly. Alternatively, however, it may also be provided for to control two or several vacuum chambers  412   d  together and thus to set a number of positions along the buffer section  400  variably, wherein the same number of vacuum chambers  412   d  does not necessarily have to be united to form one position, but also different numbers of vacuum chambers may define a position. In the example shown in  FIG. 10 , the activated vacuum chambers  412   d  of the top transport  412  are referred to by  1  to  11 . These vacuum chambers are passed when a good or group of goods is introduced. The last activated vacuum chamber in the example shown in  FIG. 10  is the vacuum chamber referred to by  11 . The following vacuum chambers referred to by the “x” are not required, i.e. the buffer is not filled completely. When introducing another good into the buffer, the vacuum chamber following vacuum chamber  11  is activated such that the movement of the belt causes transport of the goods such that a new good to be taken up is conveyed by the vacuum chamber  1 . 
     The bottom transport  408  is responsible for the good or group of goods to be output. In order to cause moving out of a group of goods or a good, the vacuum chambers  414   d  of the bottom transport necessitated for this, in this case the five vacuum chambers to the right, are activated.  FIG. 10  shows a good running out at  416  which is moved in the direction of the runout  414  by the bottom transport  414 . The bottom vacuum transport  414  runs at higher a speed than the buffer transport, wherein this speed may equal that of the runout transport. 
     The top and bottom vacuum chambers  412   d  and  414   d  are controlled synchronously in correspondence with the position and length of the good running out. The arrow  418  in  FIG. 10  shows the borderline of the active and inactive vacuum chambers  412   d,  which follows the position of the good to be output. As has already been mentioned above, the buffer is filled quicker with smaller groups than with larger groups such that, when taking up smaller groups, the last occupied buffer position travels in the direction of the runout  404 , whereas with larger groups the last occupied position travels in the direction of the in-feed  402 , as is indicated by the arrow  418 . The vacuum chambers  412   d  are activated/deactivated correspondingly. 
     An embodiment in which the transports  412  and  414  are arranged one above the other is shown in  FIG. 10 , however, the present invention is not limited to this. In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the transports  412  and  414  are arranged in the same level, the functionality described above remaining the same. 
     Although some aspects have been described in connection with a device, it is to be understood that these aspects also represent a description of a corresponding method such that a block or element of a device is also to be interpreted to be a corresponding method step or characteristic of a method step. In analogy, aspects having been described in connection with a method step or as a method step, also represent a description of a corresponding block or detail or characteristic of a corresponding device. 
     While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which will be apparent to others skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.