Abstract: A folding roller for folding signatures in a folding apparatus comprises a cylindrical folding roller element comprising a jacket surface at least partially having an elastic coating that is compressible. As such, different folded products and/or folded products of different thicknesses can be produced without a change of the nip between the folding roller pair with consistent folding quality, and an adjustment of the nip is also not required during a production run printing or an ongoing production.

Abstract: A folding roller for folding signatures in a folding apparatus comprises a cylindrical folding rolling element comprising a jacket surface at least partially having an elastic coating that is compressible. As such, different folded products and/or folded products of different thicknesses can be produced without a change of the nip between the folding roller pair with consistent folding quality, and an adjustment of the nip is also not required during a production run printing or an ongoing production.

Abstract: A folding device is provided for folding a sheet comprises a jaw cylinder, a folding cylinder, a paper guide, and an actuator. The jaw cylinder has a jaw, and the folding cylinder has a hold down element and a folding blade. The folding blade is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The folding blade is in the extended positron to transfer one or more sheets to the jaw cylinder during a fold off operation, and the folding blade is in the retracted position during a collect operation. The paper guide is positioned between the folding cylinder and the jaw cylinder. The paper guide includes a static guide element and a reciprocating guide element connected to the static guide element, the reciprocating guide element movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A double cut folder is provided for a printing press. The folder has a first cutting cylinder pair including a first knife cylinder and a first anvil cylinder for perforating a web, and a second cutting cylinder pair including a second knife cylinder and a second anvil cylinder for cutting the web into signatures. Each cutting cylinder pair includes a plurality of knife mounting locations and a plurality of cutting rubber locations. Each knife mounting location is configured to hold a knife box. A first subset of the plurality of knife mounting locations each have a knife box secured therein, and a second subset of the plurality of knife mounting locations do not have a knife box secured therein.

Abstract: A diverter for receiving printed products in a single stream and diverting the printed products into a plurality of streams is provided. The diverter includes a first rotating body rotating about a first axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the first axis. Each circumferential section of the first rotating body extends radially a different distance from the first axis. The diverter also includes a second rotating body rotating about a second axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the second axis. Each circumferential section of the second rotating body extends radially a different distance from the second axis. The first and second rotating bodies divert the printed products into three separate streams at a diverting area between the first and second axes. The diverter also includes a steeple positioned downstream of the diverting area.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting folded signatures is provided which includes a first roller and a second roller forming a first nip with the first roller. The first and second rollers each have a compressible outer layer, and are rotatable about respective axes. Preferably, the compressible outer later comprises a microcellular foam. The apparatus also includes a plurality of first transport tapes passing through the first nip and a plurality of second transport tapes passing through the first nip. The plurality of second transport tapes are wrapped at least partially around the second roller so that a signature transported between the first and second transport tapes between the first nip undergoes a change in transport direction as it is transported at least partially around the second roller. Preferably, the signatures enter the first nip perpendicular to a plane passing through the axes of the first and second rollers.

Abstract: A diverter for receiving printed products in a single stream and diverting the printed products into a plurality of streams is provided. The diverter includes a first rotating body rotating about a first axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the first axis. Each circumferential section of the first rotating body extends radially a different distance from the first axis. The diverter also includes a second rotating body rotating about a second axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the second axis. Each circumferential section of the second rotating body extends radially a different distance from the second axis. The first and second rotating bodies divert the printed products into three separate streams at a diverting area between the first and second axes. The diverter also includes a steeple positioned downstream of the diverting area.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting folded signatures is provided which includes a first roller and a second roller forming a first nip with the first roller. The first and second rollers each have a compressible outer layer, and are rotatable about respective axes. Preferably, the compressible outer later comprises a microcellular foam. The apparatus also includes a plurality of first transport tapes passing through the first nip and a plurality of second transport tapes passing through the first nip. The plurality of second transport tapes are wrapped at least partially around the second roller so that a signature transported between the first and second transport tapes between the first nip undergoes a change in transport direction as it is transported at least partially around the second roller. Preferably, the signatures enter the first nip perpendicular to a plane passing through the axes of the first and second rollers.

Abstract: A diverter for receiving printed products in a single stream and diverting the printed products into a plurality of streams is provided. The diverter includes a first rotating body rotating about a first axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the first axis. Each circumferential section of the first rotating body extends radially a different distance from the first axis. The diverter also includes a second rotating body rotating about a second axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the second axis. Each circumferential section of the second rotating body extends radially a different distance from the second axis. The first and second rotating bodies divert the printed products into three separate streams at a diverting area between the first and second axes. The diverter also includes a steeple positioned downstream of the diverting area.

Abstract: A method for folding signatures is provided. The method includes the steps of forcing a trail edge of a first signature away from a folding cylinder using a signature support, tucking a second signature held by a gripper using a tucker at a first fold location and performing a mode change to tuck a further signature at a second fold location different from the first fold location, the mode change including moving the gripper and the signature support automatically with respect to the tucker. A signature support is also provided.

Abstract: A method for folding signatures is provided. The method includes the steps of forcing a trail edge of a first signature away from a folding cylinder using a signature support, tucking a second signature held by a gripper using a tucker at a first fold location and performing a mode change to tuck a further signature at a second fold location different from the first fold location, the mode change including moving the gripper and the signature support automatically with respect to the tucker. A signature support is also provided.

Abstract: A folder has a jaw cylinder and a folding cylinder including a gripper for gripping an edge of a first signature and a tucking blade for tucking the first signature into the jaw cylinder. The folding cylinder includes a signature support supporting a second signature against the jaw cylinder, the signature support and the gripper being movable automatically together with respect to the tucking blade. A transfer cylinder, method and signature support are also provided.

Abstract: A cutting unit is described that contains a pair of cylinders disposed opposite one another with a gap formed there-between for receiving a ribbon. The pair of cylinders include a first cutting cylinder having a periphery with a cutting knife disposed helically about the periphery and a second cylinder. A drive rotates the first cutting cylinder for cutting the ribbon such that a signature cut from the ribbon has a smooth, straight edge.

Abstract: A folding cylinder includes a plurality of gripping devices supported on a first rotatable support with a first gripping device for holding a signature on the cylinder. A plurality of tucking devices are supported on a second rotatable support, the tucking devices including a first tucking device and a second tucking device. The first gripping device is located circumferentially between the first tucking device and second tucking device and a cover fixed to the second rotatable support extends circumferentially over the first gripping device between the first tucking device and the second tucking device. The cover has at least one aperture, with the first gripping device capable of extending through the at least one aperture. With the folding cylinder of the invention gaps between the tucking and gripping spiders can be eliminated.

Abstract: A folding cylinder includes a plurality of gripping devices supported on a first rotatable support with a first gripping device for holding a signature on the cylinder. A plurality of tucking devices are supported on a second rotatable support, the tucking devices including a first tucking device and a second tucking device. The first gripping device is located circumferentially between the first tucking device and second tucking device and a cover fixed to the second rotatable support extends circumferentially over the first gripping device between the first tucking device and the second tucking device. The cover has at least one aperture, with the first gripping device capable of extending through the at least one aperture. With the folding cylinder of the invention gaps between the tucking and gripping spiders can be eliminated.

Abstract: A positive control signature transferring assembly, for use in a lower folder, transports and diverts signatures under positive control. The assembly has a first positive control deceleration device having grippers for transporting some of the signatures of a stream of signatures to a first delivery stream. The assembly has a gripper cylinder containing a plurality of grippers for gripping a leading edge and a trailing edge of each of the remaining signatures in the signature stream for transporting the signatures on the gripper cylinder. A second positive control deceleration device has grippers for transporting the remaining signatures released by the gripper cylinder to a second delivery stream. In this manner, the signatures are positively controlled at all times and alignment and fixed pitch errors are significantly reduced.

Abstract: A folding cylinder includes a plurality of gripping devices supported on a first rotatable support with a first gripping device for holding a signature on the cylinder. A plurality of tucking devices are supported on a second rotatable support, the tucking devices including a first tucking device and a second tucking device. The first gripping device is located circumferentially between the first tucking device and second tucking device and a cover fixed to the second rotatable support extends circumferentially over the first gripping device between the first tucking device and the second tucking device. The cover has at least one aperture, with the first gripping device capable of extending through the at least one aperture. With the folding cylinder of the invention gaps between the tucking and gripping spiders can be eliminated.

Abstract: A reversible angle bar device for a web printing press having a web with an entering web centerline has a support, a first angle bar portion angled with respect to the first entering web centerline on a first side of the entering web centerline, and a second angle bar portion angled with respect to the entering web centerline and being located on a second side of the entering web centerline opposite the first side, the first and second angle bar portions being fixed to the support. A moveable angle bar portion is selectively attachable to either the first angle bar portion or the second angle bar portion.

Abstract: A reversible angle bar device for a web printing press having a web with an entering web centerline has a support, a first angle bar portion angled with respect to the first entering web centerline on a first side of the entering web centerline, and a second angle bar portion angled with respect to the entering web centerline and being located on a second side of the entering web centerline opposite the first side, the first and second angle bar portions being fixed to the support. A moveable angle bar portion is selectively attachable to either the first angle bar portion or the second angle bar portion.

Abstract: A device for cutting a web of material, the web having a web velocity and moving in a web direction. The device includes a plurality of linearly movable cutting elements capable of moving in the same direction as the web direction for cutting the web into signatures, and a plurality of gripper elements interacting with the cutting elements. A method for cutting a web includes the steps of linearly moving a plurality of cutting elements within a signature formation area, the web also moving within the signature formation area, the cutting elements and the web moving in the same direction; cutting the web with the plurality of cutting elements so as to form signatures; gripping the signatures; and varying a length of the signatures by varying a spacing between cutting elements in the signature formation area.