Patent ID: 8382416

Claim:
A method for collating multiple-layer brochures having a plurality of n signatures via a gathering and stitching machine, the gathering and stitching machine containing a gathering section having a gathering element being moved by a drive and a plurality of m feeders disposed along the gathering element for depositing the signatures onto the gathering element, a stitching station, a trimming station and a delivery station, the drive of the gathering element and the delivery station being connected to a common control unit, and the gathering element having a plurality of transport segments, which comprises the steps of: a) depositing a first signature via a first feeder into a first transport segment; b) depositing a second signature via a second feeder into a second transport segment; c) correspondingly further depositing of further signatures by further feeders into further transport segments; d) depositing of an n-th signature by an n-th feeder into an n-th transport segment; e) transporting of the signatures through the stitching station and the trimming station without stitching or trimming the signatures in the respective stations; and f) delivering and collating the signatures in the delivery station.