Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method of eliminating wrinkling, tearing and web-breaks of a web in an offset printing press as the web contacts the chill rollers on start-up. The system operates to eliminate the wrinkling that generates the tearing. During startup, a spreader roller impinges the web, stretching out wrinkles. During acceleration of the press, when thermal contraction of the paper also achieves the desired stretching, the spreader roller is retracted to prevent smearing of ink on the web. Uneven pressure of the spreader is utilized to implement steering of the web to enhance web centering.

Abstract: A ribbon gathering and folding assembly including a plurality of guide rollers positioned in superimposed relation to each other, the guide rollers being adapted to guide a ribbon, and a ribbon former including a former board that is positioned to receive ribbons from the guide rollers. The former board has a longitudinally extending forming surface that is positioned such that a direction of each ribbon travelling between the guide rollers and the former board is always within about 35 degrees of the forming surface. The ribbon former further includes a former roller positioned to guide the ribbons travelling from the guide rollers to the former board, and preferably also a control roller positioned between the former roller and the guide rollers on an opposite side of the ribbons from the former roller. A coating device is positioned to coat a low friction substance (e.g., silicone) onto a the upper surface of the upper-most ribbon and another coating device coats the lower surface of the lower-most ribbon.