Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for decelerating a signature comprises a movable belt arrangement, and a motor coupled to the movable belt arrangement for controllably moving the movable belt arrangement through a cyclical velocity profile. Pursuant to a feature of the present invention, the movable belt arrangement is moved through a signature engaging section with the cyclical velocity profile causing the motor to decelerate the movable belt arrangement from a first speed to a second speed while engaging a signature in the signature engaging section. The signature enters the signature engaging section at the first speed, and leaves the signature engaging section at the second speed, lower than the first speed. The cyclical velocity profile causes the movable belt arrangement to accelerate upon the signature leaving the signature engaging section, back to the first speed, prior to a next signature entering the signature engaging section.

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.