Abstract: A knife holder assembly for a knife cylinder configured to make incisions in a web material, and a method for installing knife blades on the knife cylinder. The knife holder assembly includes a knife holder having a first surface adapted for mating with an outer cylindrical surface of the knife cylinder, a second surface oppositely disposed from the first surface, a sidewall extending between the first and second surfaces, and a bore having an opening in the sidewall. An anchor is received in the bore, and a feature accessible through the second surface of the holder is provided for securing the anchor within the bore. A knife blade is secured to the knife holder with the anchor. Setup time for the knife cylinder can be reduced by moving and/or replacing blades on the knife holder instead of installing, removing, and moving the knife holder on the cylinder.

Abstract: A system and method for managing the tension and maintaining registration between multiple webs in a web finishing system. The method involves transporting a first web and at least second web toward a finishing apparatus, comparing relative positions of registration marks on the webs, severing lengths of the second web in response to the relative positions, aligning each length of the second web with the first web, and then performing a finishing operation on the webs with the finishing apparatus. The system includes the finishing apparatus, devices for transporting the webs toward the finishing apparatus, devices for comparing the relative positions of the registration marks on the webs, a device for severing lengths of the second web in response to the relative positions, and a device for individually aligning each length of the second web with the first web before the webs encounter the finishing apparatus.

Abstract: A process capable of using a fixed repeat rotary cutter for offline finishing of commercial offset web printed products having inconsistencies in repeat length. The process includes transporting a web at a linear speed in a first direction, operating a rotary cutter to singulate the products from the web by forming butt cuts within a waste portion between an adjacent pair of products and transverse to the first direction, causing the products to continue moving in the first direction, causing the products to move in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and then trimming the products to remove the waste portion between adjacent products as the products continue moving in the second direction. Each butt cut is produced with an individual straight knife mounted to a rotating knife cylinder of the rotary cutter, and the rotational speed of the knife cylinder is adjusted so that each butt cut separates pairs of preceding and trailing products as a result of being produced in the waste regions.

Abstract: A variable rotary cutter and method for setting up a knife cylinder of such a cutter that reduces the setup (make-ready) time for the cutter by eliminating the requirement to install, remove, and move knife holders on the knife cylinder. The knife cylinder has a plurality of knife holders circumferentially positioned about the circumference of the knife cylinder. At least some of the knife holders extend the axial length of the knife cylinder and are configured to permit multiple knife blades of different lengths to be mounted therein end-to-end across the entire axial length of the knife cylinder. At least one knife blade can be mounted in at least a first of the knife holders, while knife blades are not mounted in at least a second of the knife holders so that rotation of the knife cylinder against a web material forms incisions spaced apart a first spacing distance in the web material.

Abstract: A system and method for managing the tension and maintaining registration between multiple webs in a web finishing system. The method involves transporting a first web and at least second web toward a finishing apparatus, comparing relative positions of registration marks on the webs, severing lengths of the second web in response to the relative positions, aligning each length of the second web with the first web, and then performing a finishing operation on the webs with the finishing apparatus. The system includes the finishing apparatus, devices for transporting the webs toward the finishing apparatus, devices for comparing the relative positions of the registration marks on the webs, a device for severing lengths of the second web in response to the relative positions, and a device for individually aligning each length of the second web with the first web before the webs encounter the finishing apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for horizontal stacking of sheets or signatures received from a web press or the like includes conveyor sections operative to convey the sheets in shingled relation from a generally horizontal conveyor path to an inclined conveyor section that progressively rotates the sheets to inclined positions such that the sheets slide downward against an edge guide. The inclined sheets then pass upwardly through a loop conveyor section at an inclined angle to vertical. The upper edge of each success sheet engages a stop mechanism after which the sheets move horizontally into a generally V-shaped trough that engages and supports two downwardly facing edges of each sheet.

Abstract: An arrangement for decelerating and shingling printed products as they are conveyed from a variable rotary cutter by a high-speed belt conveyor to a slower speed belt conveyor includes at least one depressor wheel at the entry end of the slower speed conveyor. The depressor wheel carries a plurality of depressor members in circumferential positions corresponding to the circumferential positions of cutting knives on the rotary cutter. The leading edge of each printed product entering the slow speed conveyor enters a headstop nip which reduces the speed of the entering product while its trailing edge is simultaneously momentarily depressed by a depressor on the rotating depressor wheel to enable shingling between successive products. A brake pad cooperates with the depressors to decelerate the printed products to a speed close to the surface speed of the slower belt conveyor.

Abstract: An arrangement for decelerating and shingling printed products as they are conveyed from a variable rotary cutter by a high-speed belt conveyor to a slower speed belt conveyor includes at least one depressor wheel at the entry end of the slower speed conveyor. The depressor wheel carries a plurality of depressor members in circumferential positions corresponding to the circumferential positions of cutting knives on the rotary cutter. The leading edge of each printed product entering the slow speed conveyor enters a headstop nip which reduces the speed of the entering product while its trailing edge is simultaneously momentarily depressed by a depressor on the rotating depressor wheel to enable shingling between successive products. A brake pad cooperates with the depressors to decelerate the printed products to a speed close to the surface speed of the slower belt conveyor.

Abstract: A variable rotary cutter assembly for transverse cutting of web material as it passes between rotating anvil and knife cylinders includes one or more cutter assemblies selectively positionable on the periphery of the knife cylinder. Various embodiments of the cutter assembly include a pair of pivotally connected block members adapted for releasable mounting on the knife cylinder and carrying an elongated knife blade which is biased outwardly by spring means about a pivot axis parallel to and spaced from the knife blade. The spring means enable a precise predetermined cutting pressure per unit length of the knife blade to be established against the anvil cylinder while enabling self-adjusting movement of the knife blade to accommodate substantial variance in anvil and knife cylinder spacing and knife blade wear. The cutter assemblies may be mounted to effect single or double transverse web cuts, and stripper means are provided to remove trim strips cut from the web by pairs of knife blades.

Abstract: A variable rotary cutter assembly for transverse cutting of web material as it passes through a nip between rotating anvil and knife cylinders includes one or more cutter assemblies selectively positionable on the periphery of the knife cylinder. Each cutter assembly includes a base block adapted to be releasibly mounted on the knife cylinder, and a pair of pivotally connected block members one of which is adapted for releasibly mounting on an associated base block and the other of which carries an elongated knife blade and is outwardly pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to and spaced from the knife blade. Spring means bias the knife carrier block member outwardly about its pivot axis so as to effect a predetermined cutting pressure per unit length of the knife blade against the anvil while enabling self-adjusting movement of the knife blade to accommodate substantial variance in anvil and knife cylinder spacing and knife blade wear.