Abstract: The present invention is related to a device for seizing flat material (1). The device includes a transfer cylinder (6) rotating about an axis and having an outer surface (16). A cutting cylinder (3) cooperates with said transfer cylinder (6) and has at least one knife assembly (5) mounted thereon. A set of product seizing elements (7) is arranged in the outer periphery of said cutting cylinder (3), actuable about a common center point (11). Tips (25) of said product seizing elements (7) cooperate with counterparts (9) on the surface (16) of said transfer cylinder (6).

Abstract: A folder includes a first cylinder having at least one first gripper for holding signatures and at least one tucker for tucking the signatures to define a first fold, a second cylinder having at least one first jaw for holding the signatures at the first fold, a first motor driving the at least one first gripper, and a second motor separate from the first motor, the second motor driving the at least one tucker of the first cylinder and the at least one first jaw of the second cylinder.

Abstract: A signature slow down device is provided which includes an entrance nip mechanism for receiving a signature from an upstream device at a first signature transport velocity and reducing the transport velocity of the signature to a first reduced transport velocity; and an exit nip mechanism for receiving the signature from the entrance nip mechanism, and further reducing the transport velocity of the signature to a second reduced transport velocity. In accordance with the present invention, the respective signature contacting surfaces of the entrance and exit nip mechanisms are each defined by a pair of opposing non-circular rotating components. Each non-circular rotating component has a first surface portion for forming a nip with its opposing non-circular rotating component and a second surface portion for forming a gap with its opposing non-circular rotating component.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for advancing and/or slowing signatures in a printing press. The apparatus and method includes a series of two or more belt drives, where each belt drive includes at least a pair of opposed belts. The belts are preferably timing or toothed belts driven by sprockets. The sprockets are formed with a semi-elliptical outer surface. As a result, the belts have two directions of motion. The first direction—horizontal—advances the signatures and may be used to slow the signatures. The second direction—vertical—withdraws the belts away from contact with the signatures to prevent buckling or wrinkling during a speed transition or during a transfer between belts. In one embodiment of the present invention, both opposed belts are retracting belts; in another embodiment, one belt is a fixed conveyor belt, while the other opposed belt is a retracting belt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for advancing and/or slowing signatures in a printing press. The apparatus and method includes a series of two or more belt drives, where each belt drive includes at least a pair of opposed belts. The belts are preferably timing or toothed belts driven by sprockets. The sprockets are formed with a semi-elliptical outer surface. As a result, the belts have two directions of motion. The first direction—horizontal—advances the signatures and may be used to slow the signatures. The second direction—vertical—withdraws the belts away from contact with the signatures to prevent buckling or wrinkling during a speed transition or during a transfer between belts. In one embodiment of the present invention, both opposed belts are retracting belts; in another embodiment, one belt is a fixed conveyor belt, while the other opposed belt is a retracting belt.

Abstract: A signature folding device including a first transport device for transporting a first part of a signature, and a second transport device next to the first transport device for transporting a second part of the signature. The second transport device is skewed with respect to the first transport device so as to move the second part of the signature toward the first part of the signature. Also provided is a method for folding a signature including the steps of transporting a first part of the signature in a first direction, and transporting a second part of the signature in a second direction, the second direction being skewed toward the first direction so that a fold begins to form in the signature.

Abstract: An apparatus and means enabling a user to operate across multiple service domains using a single IDENTIFIER, ID. A Cross Service Association Domain mapping system is used to allow the desired IDENTIFIER and common user integration. A user is able to employ a single appropriate ID to access any of a plurality of services. The apparatus associates and relates all the IDENTIFIERs associated with each common user by maintaining an image of all the IDENTIFIERs for each user for all that user's applications which bridge the service and/or domain boundaries. Once a user is identified with any of the associated user IDENTIFIERs, the means allows the connection and/or routing to and from even otherwise disparate services. Included are a method, apparatus, and architecture which satisfies the above requirements while providing domain service interrelation and a common user image for the resulting interrelation. It provides for real time collaboration for cooperative, shared, and adaptive service network entities.