With a method for operating a transport system, used in the production of printed products composed of signatures or printed sheets, at least one first conveying belt is provided downstream of a printing press designed for producing the signatures or printed sheets. Further downstream, this conveying belt is divided into at least two individually operating conveying paths, wherein at the end of each of the conveying paths the transported signatures or printed sheets are supplied while positioned straddling and via a continuously operating folding device to at least one intermediate gathering device. For the further transport, the signatures or printed sheets are transferred from the gathering device in a serial, monotonous, intermittent, synchronous or non-synchronous sequence to a main conveying section. The signatures or printed sheets which are combined to form partial book blocks or complete book blocks are then wire-stapled, thread-stitched or bound with adhesive.