Abstract: A device for tensioning conveying systems for flat products in a folding apparatus includes a conveying system having a plurality of individual conveyors. The individual conveyors rotate about an endless path. A tensioning unit is assigned to each of the individual conveyors, each tensioning unit being pivotally mounted on a support allowing for quick break down detection of the individual conveyors.

Abstract: A collation method and apparatus that is immune from singularization faults which disrupt the collation process. Each signature is loaded into individual grippers of a power and free gripper conveyor system. Those grippers that experience a miss or a double are diverted out of the process stream. Only those grippers that carry one and only one signature are allowed to continue on in the primary signature queue. The grippers that continue on in the primary signature queue are re-queued into a sequential order which eliminates gaps in the queue. The collation machine accepts signatures from the downstream end of the signature queue as the singularization process continues to add signatures to the upstream end of the signature queue. The singularizer uses a track and diverter structure, where grippers without a signature are diverted to the diverter structure and grippers with a signature continue on the track to a collator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and conveying a product stream includes a conveying belt entering a folder to grip products. The conveying belt comprises product grippers arranged thereon in an endless configuration. At least some of the grippers are selectively rotatable around an axis during movement of the conveying belt to allow for the signatures gripped to be converted into a leading corner configuration. If only a selected set of the grippers are rotated, a secondary stream of products may be formed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method allowing the changing of image plates or cassettes in an offset printing apparatus without the need to stop the press. Each blanket cylinder is associated with two image cylinders, where each image cylinder carries an associated image plate or cassette. When one of the image cylinders is engaged with the blanket cylinder, thereby transferring an image for printing on the web, the other image cylinder is disengaged from the blanket cylinder. As a result, the other image cylinder is stopped, allowing the image plate or cassette to be changed without the need to stop the entire press operation. After the image plate or cassette is changed on the stopped image cylinder, that image cylinder may be subsequently engaged with the blanket cylinder, while the other image cylinder is disengaged, thereafter allowing that image cylinder to have its image plate or cassette changed.