Abstract: Provided by the invention is a buckle-plate folding station including a first folding roller and two further contra-rotating fold-forming rollers and an adjustable buckle-plate folding unit. The intention of the invention is to provide a buckle-plate folding station enabling the point in time of fold formation to be determined. For this purpose means for detecting sheet infeed are provided in the buckle-plate folding station. The buckle-plate folding station further comprises means for detecting the deflection of at least one of the fold-forming rollers in forming the fold. Means for determining the sheet length fed between sheet infeed and formation of the fold are also provided.

Abstract: A method of operating a folder comprising a plurality of sequentially arranged folding units. At least one folding unit is provided with a sheet detector arranged upstream of a sheet abutment and at least one lateral guide. Apart from automatic and single stroke modes of operation, a further mode of operation for the set-up or "make-ready" of the folder is provided, in which (1) the drive of the folder is run at a reduced speed within a predetermined speed range, for example, 50-60 m/min.; (2) upon detecting a supplied sheet, the sheet detector supplies a switch "off" signal to the drive so that the sheet movement is retarded short of the guide of the respective folder unit and comes to rest; (3) the sheet is then moved at a further-reduced speed toward the sheet abutment of the respective folder unit; and (4) in a phase between a stationary state of the sheet until the sheet arrives at the sheet abutment, the guide is set to suit the size and folding shape requirements of the supplied sheet.

Abstract: An aligning table such as e.g. used in feeders for folding and printing machines comprising a lower sheet guide and an upper sheet guide which is defined by two side walls which extend in the conveying direction and between which a plurality of holding-down elements likewise aligned in the conveying direction are arranged, is improved such that the side walls are connected together by at least one guide bar which extends perpendicularly to said walls and on which the holding-down elements are slidingly mounted, whereby interfering sheets of paper, paperboard, cardboard or the like can simply and rapidly be removed from the aligning table without applying high forces.