Abstract: An apparatus and method for slowing down signatures sent to a quarter fold of a folder for a printing machine are disclosed. Signatures are transported between a first set of fast belts including upper belts and lower belts. The signatures are then received at their leading edge by an assembly of upper and lower partial pulleys mounted to a frame which changes the speed of the signatures to a slow speed. The signatures are then received at their leading edge by a second set of slow belts including upper belts and lower belts.

Abstract: A web engagement system for an off-reel printing press comprising a guide piece, a guide channel and drive stations for the displacement of the guide piece. The guide channel accommodates and guides the guide piece and is located on the frame of the press between the drive stations. The guide piece is slightly longer than the distance separating the various drive stations. The advance of the guide piece is caused as a result of the displacement of a slide equipped with wedging rollers which alternately grip and release the guide piece. A pair of wedging rollers prevents the return movement of the guide piece. The invention is used for introducing paper webs unwinding continuously in an off-reel printing press.

Abstract: Accoumulator cylinder assembly for a folding machine of a printing press having tucking blades mounted on respective tucking-blade shafts and respectively associated with entrainer members mounted on entrainer shafts includes, for each entrainer shaft and each tucking-blade shaft, a latch fixed to the accumulator cylinder and having an operating position in which the latch blocks the shaft to prevent an roller thereof from being affected by a respective control region of a respective cam thereof and a non-operating position in which the latch does not act on the shaft; a latch-signal production device for generating at least one series of periodic signals according to an angular position of the accumulator cylinder, in order to cause it to operate in an accumulation mode; a device for enabling the latches to respond to the signals wherein each latch the operating position thereof when a signal is addressed to it, and the non-operating position thereof when no signal is addressed to it; and a device for select

Abstract: An improved dampener roll is used to transfer dampening fluid from a reservoir to a printing plate in a lithographic printing press. The dampener roll includes an array of bristles which extends between opposite ends of the dampener fountain roll. The array of bristles includes a central portion and first and second end portions which are disposed at opposite ends of the roll. The bristles at the first and second end portions of the array of bristles are longer than the bristles at the central portion of the array of bristles.

Abstract: An automatic slow down setting device for a signature prior to folding thereof in chopper forders for web fed printing presses comprises a single detector of abutment of the signature, relay timing means connected to said detector and having an opening contact means and closing contact means, and two different phase setting motor control circuits, i.e. a "more advance" circuit with relay means and said closing contact, and a "less advance" circuit with relay means and said opening contact, and by means of which the signature can be precisely adjusted to abutment.