Patent ID: 8369982

Claim:
An apparatus ( 10 , 10 a , 10 b ) for collecting a multiplicity of flexible, two-dimensional products, including printer's products, the apparatus ( 10 , 10 a , 10 b ) comprising: a product collection unit ( 12 , 12 a ), a first handling unit ( 14 , 14 ′) and a second handling unit ( 16 , 16 ′, 16 ″) for synchronized handling of a supply of products, wherein the product collection unit ( 14 , 14 ′) includes a main drive control system ( 18 ) which is operatively connected to a main drive ( 20 , 20 ′) for driving a conveyor means ( 22 , 22 a , 22 b ), the first handling unit ( 14 , 14 ′) includes a first drive control system ( 24 , 24 ′) which is operatively connected to a first drive ( 26 , 26 ′, 26 ″), the second handling unit ( 16 , 16 ′, 16 ″) includes a second drive control system ( 28 ) which is operatively connected to a second drive ( 30 ), the main drive control system ( 18 ) and also the first and second drive control systems ( 24 , 28 ) are operatively connected to one another via a first data bus ( 32 , 32 ′), wherein the first handling unit ( 14 , 14 ′) includes a first data collector ( 34 , 34 ′) which is connected to the main drive control system ( 18 ) and the first drive control system ( 24 , 24 ′) via the first data bus ( 32 , 32 ′), and the second handling unit ( 16 , 16 ′, 16 ″) includes a second data collector ( 36 , 36 ′) which is connected to the first drive control system ( 24 , 24 ′) and the second drive control system ( 28 ) via the first data bus ( 32 , 32 ′).