Abstract: A broadsheet newspaper printing press has at least one print unit printing at least one web of material and a folder. The folder has a cross-cutter to cut the web of material into broadsheet newspapers, a tucker cylinder having a gripper gripping the broadsheet newspapers at a lead edge and a tucking blade for forming a cross-fold in the broadsheet newspapers, and a jaw cylinder or fold rollers to receive the cross-folded broadsheet newspapers from the tucker cylinder at the cross-fold, the gripper being located with respect to the tucking blade so that the cross-fold is located at between 33% and 45% or 55% and 67% of the height of the newspaper.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting folded signatures is provided which includes a first roller and a second roller forming a first nip with the first roller. The first and second rollers each have a compressible outer layer, and are rotatable about respective axes. Preferably, the compressible outer later comprises a microcellular foam. The apparatus also includes a plurality of first transport tapes passing through the first nip and a plurality of second transport tapes passing through the first nip. The plurality of second transport tapes are wrapped at least partially around the second roller so that a signature transported between the first and second transport tapes between the first nip undergoes a change in transport direction as it is transported at least partially around the second roller. Preferably, the signatures enter the first nip perpendicular to a plane passing through the axes of the first and second rollers.

Abstract: A diverter for receiving printed products in a single stream and diverting the printed products into a plurality of streams is provided. The diverter includes a first rotating body rotating about a first axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the first axis. Each circumferential section of the first rotating body extends radially a different distance from the first axis. The diverter also includes a second rotating body rotating about a second axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the second axis. Each circumferential section of the second rotating body extends radially a different distance from the second axis. The first and second rotating bodies divert the printed products into three separate streams at a diverting area between the first and second axes. The diverter also includes a steeple positioned downstream of the diverting area.

Abstract: A method for transporting printed products is provided. The method includes the steps setting a nip to a first size for printed products having a first thickness, sensing a printed product having a second thickness different from the first thickness, the printed product sensing occurring prior to the printed product entering the nip, adjusting the first size of the nip, to a second size different from the first size, to receive the printed product having a second thickness; and transporting the printed product having the second thickness through the nip.

Abstract: A nip roller is provided that includes a shaft, a first nip disk portion, a second nip disk portion and an attachment section for removably securing the first nip disk portion and the second nip disk portion to the shaft.

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 multiplexing gathering device includes a first gatherer for forming first gathered printed products on a first line and a second gatherer for forming second gathered printed products on a second line. A collecting device collects the first and second gathered printed products. A first transporter transports the first gathered products from the first line to the collecting device and a second transporter for transports the second gathered products from the second line to the collecting device. At least one controller for controls the first gatherer and second gatherer so that second gathered products are selectively formed as a function of the formation of first gathered printed products. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for transporting newspapers includes the steps of feeding an asymmetrically folded multiple section newspaper into a pocket of a pocket conveyor of an inserting machine, wherein the asymmetrically folded multiple section newspaper has an extended lap having a height of at least 15% of a height of the asymmetrically folded newspaper when unfolded. A face of a first section of the headline side of the newspaper, when fed into the pocket is adjacent a movable wall of the pocket, and a back of a last section of the headline side of the newspaper adjacent a fixed wall of the pocket. The method further comprises feeding one or more inserts from a hopper to the pocket, where the inserts are fed into an opening between newspaper sections, removing the newspapers with the inserts therein from the pocket with a gripper conveyor, and releasing the newspapers with the inserts from the gripper conveyor headline up on a lapped stream conveyor.

Abstract: A broadsheet newspaper printing press has at least one print unit printing at least one web of material and a folder. The folder has a cross-cutter to cut the web of material into broadsheet newspapers, a tucker cylinder having a gripper gripping the broadsheet newspapers at a lead edge and a tucking blade for forming a cross-fold in the broadsheet newspapers, and a jaw cylinder or fold rollers to receive the cross-folded broadsheet newspapers from the tucker cylinder at the cross-fold, the gripper being located with respect to the tucking blade so that the cross-fold is located at between 33% and 45% or 55% and 67% of the height of the newspaper.

Abstract: An inking apparatus for a printing press is provided. The inking apparatus includes an anilox roll and at least one ink pump. The anilox roll includes an interior region, a porous layer surrounding the interior region and an outer surface of engraved cells surrounding the porous layer. The at least one ink pump is adapted to pump ink into the interior region and through the porous layer to the outer surface of engraved cells. A printing press and a method for providing ink to an anilox roll are also provided.

Abstract: A nip roller is provided that includes a shaft, a first nip disk portion, a second nip disk portion and an attachment section for removably securing the first nip disk portion and the second nip disk portion to the shaft.

Abstract: A transport device for transporting printed products is provided including a first and a second tape for receiving and transporting the printed products, a first and second roller for guiding the tapes, a nip-adjusting device adjusting a nip formed by the first and second tapes at the first and second rollers and a sensor determining a thickness of the printed products, the nip adjusting device being actuated as a function of the sensor. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An offset printing press is provided. The offset printing press includes an image cylinder, a blanket cylinder having an axially convex outer surface, and a printing blanket disposed over the axially convex outer surface, the printing blanket including a carrier sleeve layer having at least one axially convex surface. An axially profiled shim is also provided.

Abstract: A printing press is provided that includes at least one variable cutoff printing unit printing images of at least one cutoff length on a web, at least one cutting cylinder downstream of the at least one variable cutoff printing unit cutting the web into signatures. The printing press also includes a pair of first accelerator nip rolls receiving the web as the web is cut into the signatures and accelerating each of the signatures and at least one motor accelerating the pair of first accelerator nip rolls such that the first accelerator nip rolls have a first surface velocity equal to a velocity of the web as the web is received by the first accelerator nip rolls and the first accelerator nip rolls have a second surface velocity greater than the first surface velocity as the first accelerator nip rolls release each of the signatures. A folder and a method of operating a folder are also provided.

Abstract: A variable format signature collection apparatus is provided. The variable format signature collection apparatus includes a sprocket and a timing belt traveling about the sprocket. The timing belt includes a plurality of gripper mounts. The gripper mounts include a first set of gripper mounts arranged on the timing belt to support grippers for receiving first signatures of a first cutoff length and a second set of gripper mounts positioned to support grippers for receiving second signatures of a second cutoff length.

Abstract: A printing press is provided. The printing press includes at least one printing unit for printing on a running web, a cutting cylinder for cutting the web into sheets and a folder for folding sheets cut from the web. The folder includes a collect cylinder for accumulating a number of sheets at a collect location, a folding cylinder for folding the accumulated number of sheets received from the collect location to form a folded section, a cam arrangement including a supplementary cam device for controlling the number of sheets collected on the collect cylinder and an actuator for actuating the supplementary cam device. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method for transporting newspapers includes the steps of feeding an asymmetrically folded multiple section newspaper into a pocket of a pocket conveyor of an inserting machine, wherein the asymmetrically folded multiple section newspaper has an extended lap having a height of at least 15% of a height of the asymmetrically folded newspaper when unfolded. A face of a first section of the headline side of the newspaper, when fed into the pocket is adjacent a movable wall of the pocket, and a back of a last section of the headline side of the newspaper adjacent a fixed wall of the pocket. The method further comprises feeding one or more inserts from a hopper to the pocket, where the inserts are fed into an opening between newspaper sections, removing the newspapers with the inserts therein from the pocket with a gripper conveyor, and releasing the newspapers with the inserts from the gripper conveyor headline up on a lapped stream conveyor.

Abstract: A folder for a printing press is provided. The folder includes a first cutting cylinder for cutting a first web into a plurality of first sheets, a second cutting cylinder for cutting the second web into a plurality of second sheets and for holding a second sheet, a transfer cylinder receiving at least one first sheet and at least one second sheet at a transfer location and a storage cylinder storing at least one of the plurality of second sheets cut from the web, the second cutting cylinder capable of transferring second sheets to the storage cylinder. A printing press and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A digital printing press is provided. The digital printing press includes at least one digital printing unit printing on a web, at least one cutting cylinder cutting the web into panorama sheets and flysheets and a folder for folding the panorama sheets cut from the web. The folder includes a flysheet cylinder for receiving flysheets printed and cut from the web, a collect cylinder for accumulating at least one panorama sheet and at least one flysheet at a collect location and a folding cylinder for folding panorama sheets received from the collect cylinder into a section. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: An adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus is provided. The adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus includes a variable cutting apparatus cutting a printed web into a first signature and a second signature, a first assembly receiving the first signature and a second assembly downstream of the first assembly receiving the second signature. Also included are a first delivery section for receiving the first signature from the first assembly, a second delivery section for receiving the second signature from the second assembly and a stack receiving conveyor for receiving the first signature and the second signature. The first delivery section is movable between a first delivery and a first non-delivery position. The second delivery section is movable between a second delivery position and a second non-delivery position. The stacking receiving conveyor is movable between a conveying position and a non-conveying position. A method of producing and delivering signatures is also provided.