Abstract: A rotary blade folder includes two fold rollers and a folding cylinder, the folding cylinder including a cylinder body with an outer surface, a set of tucking blades and an expansion plate adjustable to change an effective diameter of the folding cylinder. The expansion plate has at least one aperture, the set of tucking blades fitting through the at least one aperture during a tucking operation so as to present a fold in a signature to the two fold rollers. Also provided is a method of folding a signature comprising the steps of gripping a signature about a folding cylinder so that the signature is over an expansion plate of the folding cylinder, the expansion plate having at least one aperture, and folding the signature by passing tucking blades through the at least one aperture.

Abstract: A drive for two interacting folding rolls, the drive including a first drive-in gear, a first roll gear driven by the first drive-in gear, a first cover for sealing the first drive-in gear and the first roll gear, a second drive-in gear, a second roll gear driven by the second drive-in gear and adjustable with respect to the first roll gear, and a second cover for sealing the second drive-in gear and the second roll gear. Also provided is a method for sealing a drive of interacting first and second folding cylinders comprising the steps of sealing a first drive-in gear and a first cylinder gear of the first folding cylinder using a first cover, and sealing a second drive-in gear and a second cylinder gear of the second folding cylinder using a second cover, the first cylinder gear being adjustable with respect to the second cylinder gear.

Abstract: A folder system includes an adjustable-lap folder for folding signatures so-as to define folded signatures, an optical sensor for measuring a presence of the fold&ed signatures, and a controller connected to the rotary blade folder and the optical sensor for determining a lap of the folded signatures. Also provided is a method for folding signatures comprising folding signatures in a folder so as to define folded signatures, and measuring with an optical sensor the edges of the folded signatures so as to determine a lap.

Abstract: A folder includes a cam having a cam follower path and a movable segment, the movable segment having a first actuating part and a second part, the first actuating part and the second part being selectively movable into the cam follower path. At holds an edge of a signature, the holding device being actuated by the at least one cam follower. Also disclosed is a method for switching a folder from a straight mode to a collect mode, the folder being actuated by a cam. The method includes moving a movable segment of the cam so that a raised section of the movable segment is in a cam follower path of the cam, so as to permit a straight mode of the folder, and moving the movable segment of the cam so that a non-raised section of the movable segment is in the cam follower path of the cam, so as to permit a collect mode of the folder.

Abstract: A folder includes a cam having a cam follower path and a movable segment, the movable segment having a first actuating part and a second part, the first actuating part and the second part being selectively movable into the cam follower path. At least one cam follower follows the cam follower path and at least holding device holds an edge of a signature, the holding device being actuated by the at least one cam follower. Also disclosed is a method for switching a folder from a straight mode to a collect mode, the folder being actuated by a cam. The method includes moving a movable segment of the cam so that a raised section of the movable segment is in a cam follower path of the cam, so as to permit a straight mode of the folder, and moving the movable segment of the cam so that a non-raised section of the movable segment is in the cam follower path of the cam, so as to permit a collect mode of the folder.

Abstract: A printing sleeve removal device includes a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm movable with respect to the second jaw arm, the first and second jaw arms having ends forming a jaw to engage a printing sleeve. Also disclosed is a method for removing a printing sleeve comprising engaging a printing sleeve on a printing cylinder with a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm and moving the printing sleeve via the first and second jaw arms so as to slide the printing sleeve axially with respect to the printing cylinder.