Abstract: A former for folding a stock web including a nose plate (1) having a base plate (4) covered by a cover plate (5). Openings (8) are provided extending to the surface of the cover plate on which the stock web runs. The openings (8) are preferably formed by recesses in the side edges of the cover plate (5) positioned where the cover plate (5) contacts the base plate (4).

Abstract: To provide a paper guide roller on which freshly printed ink does not smear while, still, the roller has a surface which is sufficiently rough so that it can be rotated by frictional engagement with a paper web passing thereover, the roller is formed with a base body, typically of steel or cast iron, on which a jacket (3) is placed. In accordance with the present invention, the jacket (3) has two layers, a first layer (4) of ultra-high molecular plastic material, for example polyethylene or polytetrafluorothylene, and a second layer (5) thereover, which has glass balls or beads (6) mixed therein. The material of the second layer can be the same as the first, or different; the glass balls or beads project by a distance of about 20% of their diameter from the second layer. A suitable thickness for the first layer is about 0.3 mm, and the glass balls or beads may have diameters of between 0.2 to 1 mm.

Abstract: To prevent deposition of ink, and accumulation of ink deposits on the paddles or vanes (8) of a paddle wheel distributor (2), the paddles or vanes are made of a plastic material which has a surface which rejects ink, and prevents accumulation thereon; a suitable material is polyamide, preferably reinforced with fiber or filamentary material, such as carbon fibers, the polyamide of the type polyamide 6.6 being present in about 70% with 30% carbon fibers. This permits making the vanes with a part-spherical or part-circular, or elliptical cross section to provide rounded corners and hence gentle handling of printed products (7) collected in the pockets between adjacent vanes. Braking tongues (9) located between axially staggered rings (4) of vanes can be of the same material and are so positioned that, in a plane transverse to the printed folded products, such as newspapers being inserted into the pockets between the vanes, are deformed in a gentle or slightly undulating shape.

Abstract: To provide a smoothly conically converging edge portion of a former, with air communication openings therethrough, the former sheet is bent over at the edge in the conically converging shape with the inner bent-over portion left free; core elements of conical shape matching the cone shape of the bent-over portion are introduced into the open space, and a curable resin such as epoxy, polyurethane or silicone is poured over the core, to adhere to the bent-over portion and the major wall portion of the former and, after dissolving of the core element, leaving air chambers to which air with differential atmospheric pressure can be introduced through connecting stubs which can be cast into the closing-off wall. Solvent, such as tetrachlorethylene to dissolve a polystyrene core can likewise be introduced through these stubs. If a plurality of core units are used, a plurality of separate air communication chambers can be formed with separating walls cast in the gaps or spaces between core elements.