Abstract: An apparatus for diverting incoming printed products which includes a shaft, at least one first flipper mounted in a first fixed direction on the shaft, a motor coupled to the shaft; and a controller coupled to the motor for controlling positioning of the shaft to allowing printed products to be diverted along different paths associated with a particular shaft position. The apparatus further includes a low inertia coupler interconnected between the motor and the shaft. Alternatively, the apparatus includes a roll, a first motor coupled to the roll and a controller coupled to the first motor for controlling the rotation of the roller for diverting printed products along one of two different paths, each path associated with a direction of rotation of the roll. This alternative apparatus may also include a shaft with at least one flipper mounted thereon and a second motor coupled to the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a quarterfolder having a folding blade for folding newspapers or other products. A folding location of the quarterfolder being adjustable with respect to the newspapers. The folding location may, for example, be located at between about 10 inches and about 11 inches from an edge of the newspaper so as to create a newspaper having a first side with a height of at between about 10 inches and about 11 inches and a second side with a height of approximately 9 inches or less. The second side, may, for example, have a height of between about 1 inch and about 2 inches, or alternatively, between about 7 inches and about 8 inches, depending on the overall length of the newspaper.

Abstract: A stitching head is provided for stitching books or printed products. The stitching head includes a supporter and a driver. The supporter has a corrugated supporter surface including first ridges and first grooves. The driver interacts with the supporter and has a channel and a corrugated driver surface which includes second ridges and second grooves. The first grooves and first ridges of the supporter mesh with the second ridges and second grooves of driver and the channel supports stitching material between the corrugated supporter surface and the corrugated driver surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for detecting a type of one of plurality of devices attached to a graphics machine, each device being one of at least a first type and a second type. The method includes detecting at a controller the type of device attached to or to be attached to the machine. The controller is capable of preadjusting the device or machine as a function of the detection. A graphics machine includes a controller, a first device connected to the controller, the first device being categorizable as one of at least a first type and a second type, the controller detecting the type of the first device, and a memory accessible by the controller, the memory storing information regarding the first type and the second type.

Abstract: A book trimmer is provided. The book trimmer includes an edge trimming knife movable back and forth in a book travel direction and a conveyor downstream of the edge trimming knife. The conveyor includes a reciprocating section movable back and forth in the book travel direction receiving books trimmed by the edge trimming knife. A method for trimming a book is also provided.

Abstract: A variable cutoff web printing press is provided including a first plate cylinder for printing a first color of first and second images and a second plate cylinder for printing a second color of the first and the second images. The printing press also includes a common blanket cylinder. The first and second plate cylinders contact the common blanket cylinder and transfer the first and second images to the common blanket cylinder. The printing press also includes a first transfer body for receiving the first image from the common blanket cylinder and transferring the first image to a web and a second transfer body for receiving the second image from the common blanket cylinder and transferring the second image to the web. A method of variable cutoff web printing is also provided.

Abstract: A feeder device for printed products is provided including at least one first drum rotatable about a first axis; at least one second drum rotatable about a second axis; and an actuator coupled to the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum for reciprocating the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum axially. A printed product conveying device and a method of transporting printed products are also provided.

Abstract: A signature transport device is provided. The signature transport device includes a first conveyor moving a stream of folded signatures in a first direction, a rotary arm having a gripper, the gripper gripping a folded signature from the stream by a fold, the rotary arm moving the folded signature in a second direction, a toothed drum engaging a portion of the folded signature, the rotary arm rotating past the toothed drum to open the folded signature and a second conveyor receiving the opened signature from the gripper as the rotary arm continues to rotate. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A variable cutoff printing press is provided. The variable cutoff printing press includes a first plate cylinder, a second plate cylinder, a continuous belt blanket contacting the first and second plate cylinders and a movable support cylinder supporting the belt blanket. The first and second plate cylinders, the continuous belt blanket and the movable support cylinder form a first print section and the movable support cylinder is movable to change the print length of the first print section. A method of printing images with a printing press is also provided.

Abstract: A blanket washing apparatus for washing printing blankets of various circumferences on a blanket cylinder in a variable cutoff printing press is provided. The blanket washing apparatus includes a washer head, a movable bracket coupled to an axial end of the washer head, the movable bracket including a slidable portion to vary a position of the washer head based on the circumference of the printing blanket on the blanket cylinder. The blanket washing apparatus also includes a guide plate for guiding the movable bracket to maintain a prescribed gap between the washer head and the printing blanket on the blanket cylinder as the slidable portion of the movable bracket slides. A variable cutoff printing press and a method of adjusting a position of a blanket washing apparatus during a cutoff change in a printing unit of a printing press are also provided.

Abstract: A printing press folder is provided. The printing press folder includes a cutting apparatus cutting a moving web to form successive signatures, a first acceleration cylinder and a second acceleration cylinder. The first acceleration cylinder includes a first contacting segment and a first relieved portion circumferentially adjacent to the first contacting segment. The second acceleration cylinder includes a second contacting segment and a second relieved portion circumferentially adjacent to the second contacting segment. The first acceleration cylinder and the second acceleration cylinder grip the web at a gripping location with the first contacting segment and the second contacting segment as the web is cut by the cutting apparatus.

Abstract: A variable cutoff printing press is provided. The variable cutoff printing press includes a first cylinder printing on a web at a first longitudinal portion of the web and a second longitudinal portion of the web at the same time, the second longitudinal portion being downstream of the first longitudinal portion at least a distance equal to an effective circumference of the first cylinder. The variable cutoff printing press also includes a second cylinder forming at least one nip with the first cylinder, the first and second longitudinal portions of the web passing through the at least one nip. A method of variable cutoff printing is also provided.

Abstract: A device for diverting printed products is provided. The device includes a first rotating support having a first pad mounted thereon, a second rotating support having a second pad mounted thereon, a third rotating support having a third pad mounted thereon and a fourth rotating support having a fourth pad mounted thereon. The first pad has a different thickness than the second pad and the first and second rotating supports rotate together. The third pad has a different thickness than the fourth pad and the third and fourth rotating supports rotate together. A method for diverting printed products is also provided.

Abstract: A variable cutoff printing unit is provided including a first upper plate cylinder carrying a first upper image, a first upper blanket cylinder including a first upper blanket print area for transferring the first upper image to a web and a first upper blanket non print area, a second upper plate cylinder carrying a second upper image, a second upper blanket cylinder including a second upper blanket print area for transferring the second upper image to the web and a second upper blanket non print area, a first lower plate cylinder carrying a first lower image, a first lower blanket cylinder including a first lower blanket print area for transferring the first lower image to the web and a first lower blanket non print area, a second lower plate cylinder carrying a second lower image and a second lower blanket cylinder including a second lower blanket print area for transferring the second lower image to the web and a second lower blanket non print area.

Abstract: A web printing press is provided. The web printing press includes at least one printing unit printing images on a web, at least one press component in direct contact with the web, a cutting device for cutting the web into sheets and a controller transmitting a virtual master signal to the at least one printing unit and at least one press component. A sensor senses the at least one press component or directly senses the web downstream of the at least one print unit and generates a sensor signal. A processor receives the sensor signal and the virtual master signal, the processor transmits a modified virtual master signal to the cutting device as a function of the received sensor signal. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: A roll for a rotary printing press having a first web disposed along a helical path and a plurality of first tabs disposed one after the other on the first web and extending from the first web at an angle relative to a surface of the first web. The first web forms one of a cylindrical inner wall and a cylindrical outer wall.

Abstract: A stitching head is provided for stitching books or printed products. The stitching head includes a supporter and a driver. The supporter has a corrugated supporter surface including first ridges and first grooves. The driver interacts with the supporter and has a channel and a corrugated driver surface which includes second ridges and second grooves. The first grooves and first ridges of the supporter mesh with the second ridges and first grooves of driver and the channel supports stitching material between the corrugated supporter surface and the corrugated driver surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A variable cutoff printing press is provided that includes a plate cylinder, a first blanket cylinder including a first circumferential section movable with respect to a second circumferential section, and a second blanket cylinder including a third circumferential section movable with respect to a fourth circumferential section. The first, second, third and fourth circumferential sections contact the plate cylinder during a printing mode and print continuous images having a cutoff length on a web. A method of printing is also provided.

Abstract: A web guiding apparatus is provided. The web guiding apparatus includes an angle bar and an angle bar support supporting the angle bar. The angle bar support has a first end portion and a second end portion. The web guiding apparatus also includes a first actuator coupled to the angle bar support for moving the first end portion along a vertical axis and a second actuator coupled to the angle bar support for moving the second end portion along a horizontal axis. A folder for a printing press is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing press. The printing press includes a frame, a plate cylinder, a plate cylinder support supporting the plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder for receiving an image from the plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder support supporting the blanket cylinder, an impression cylinder for supporting a printing substrate between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder, an actuator connected to and controlling a position of the plate cylinder support or the blanket cylinder support and a controller providing the actuator with a position setpoint, the actuator receiving position feedback signals to maintain the position setpoint during a printing operation. The present invention also provides a method for operating a printing press.